The title really says it all, but to go into more depth, recently, the movie Harriet was just released in theatres, sharing the inspiring story of Harriet Tubman. Harriet was a women that helped slaves escape to freedom through the underground railroad around 1850. She was nicknamed the "conductor" of this rail road, showing that she was clearly a very important asset to the operation. So, as she deserves, a movie was recently released about her life and trials. While choosing a cast for this movie, the studio president of Focus Features made a casting suggestion. The suggestion being to make Julia Roberts play the part of Harriet Tubman.
Now, if you don't know what either of these woman look like, I understand why you think, "what's the big deal?"
Well, let me just show you the "striking resemblance" of the two. Note the sarcasm.
This is Julia Roberts-
This is Harriet Tubman-
Yeah, I see it. similar nose... eyes...
-oh, oh wait. Haha. Silly me. I kinda forgot the teeny tiny fact that Julia Roberts is WHITE.
Yes, Mr. President, lets have a movie about an African American woman that spent years of her life being disgraced and threatened due to the color of her skin while risking her life to save slaves and change her entire RACE. GOOD. PLAN.
But ohhhh wait. It gets better ladies and gents.
When the president of the company was confronted that Harriet Tubman was kinda... you know... black, and Julia Roberts was kinda... you know... not, he said this.
"That was so long ago. No one will know that."
*crickets*
Considering her name has been mentioned in literally every middle school in America... I think SOMEONE might notice...
But anyway, the fact that Harriet Tubman would be played by a cocasian might not go over too well. To me, that just screams "black people need a white person to save them". Or maybe thats just me. <<< Sarcasm.
So, do you think the president of Focus Features was intentionally trying to be racist? .... Or was he just being a literal moron that needs to take 6th grade history again?
How do you think people would react if Harriet Tubman was played by Julia Roberts?
Is this all fake news because people can’t possibly be this stupid?
Probably and hopefully. But hey, it’s one heck of a story.
Replies
Great job Macey! Very well written!
I don't think he was being racist because he wasn't trying to discriminate African American people or anything but he was still very disrespectful to an important woman from our past. I think most people would be very angry, but some also wouldn't really care, they just want to go to a movie. I think that this could be fake news because rumors can spread so fast and I don't know why anyone would suggest that in the first place. Especially considering they are completely different races.
I think that he was just being a moron about the situation. He was being a little too arrogant. I think he's just living in the present and probably doesn't even care about the movie. I think the people would be infuriated, especially minorities. I think there's a possibility that this could be fake news. If there isn't a recording of Donald Trump saying this, then I don't believe it.
I don't think he was trying to be racist but it's hard to tell because we can't read his mind. I think that there would be a lot of people mad, and I think they all have good reasons to be mad. The two people look nothing alike. I don't know if it's fake news or not, but I do agree, it makes a heck of a story.
I think that he is not trying to be racist or anything. He probably just wants to find a good, experienced actor that he knows and he chose Julia Roberts. I think that it would be half and half, half of the people would not have a problem and the others would be very mad.
I don't think they were intentionally trying to be racist. However I don't know why their first thought on an acotr would be a white actor. I think they could get a lot of hate because it's a story of a black women being portrayed by a white women. I don;t think it's fake news because some industries don't always have the bst ideas.
Yeah, that is very true. People would definately be beyond outraged if Harriet Tubman was portrayed as caucasian. I'm very happy they dd not go through with this casting plan. If they did, there would be outrage and a lot of people blowing it way out of proportion (because people love finding something to hate and then ranting about it for the next decade of their lives).
I don't think the president of Focus Features was trying to be racist, but I think it's crazy that he even considered having a white person playing Harriet Tubman. People would be very upset if Harriet Tubman was played by any white person. Why would it make any sense to have a white person play her when they are tons of great black actresses that would love to play the role.
Very true. Maybe he was trying to be racist, maybe not. I don't know what was going through this guys head when he made the suggestion, except for the fact that it was absolutely absurd. I'm very glad the producers were more sensible than the president when making the cast.
Wow. I do not think that that movie is going to do very well. I think that they will get a lot of hate for this especially when the president of the company said that no one would notice. I think that everyone was taught the story of Harriet Tubman at some point in their lives, so having a white actress play that role doesn't fit the story well at all.
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