Why Isn't It Considered Racist

[lankeela]

when news stories point out that people are black or people of colour - twice this week stories have centred on someone's ethnicity. The woman who trekked to the South Pole was the 'first woman of colour' to do so and now Sidney Poitier is being hailed as the first black actor to win an Oscar for Best Actor. Surely that is being racist by pointing it out?

[Zacs-Master]

Of course it would change the role. It was written as a white person.

[Zacs-Master]

By the way, I would be if the same opinion if the role had been written as a black person and then played as a white one.

[naomi24]

It's not racist to want realistic portrayals of characters.

I was watching First Dates the other night. A young black girl said that she'd asked to meet a black boy which I personally think is fine. However, had a white girl specified a white date, which I personally would also consider fine, that wouldn't have been broadcast. In fact I doubt she'd have been chosen for the programme at all. She may even have found herself having her collar felt! Big discrepancies in this racist lark.

[pixie374]

How would it change? It's a fictional character, not Queen Victoria. I think you are just showing, like many others, that saying something is easy- but the reality is different.

[naomi24]

Ann Boleyn isn't a fictional character - except when she's presented as black.

[pixie374]

With real people, it makes sense to make them as similar as possible. I was referring to James Bond though, and asking what difference it would make to all you colour-blind" people.

[Zacs-Master]

James Bond is a fictional character. Who is white.

[Zacs-Master]

‘I think you are just showing, like many others, that saying something is easy- but the reality is different’

Mmm, Pixie, we’ve been here before, you and I, with regard to your arguments which tend towards the bizarre and illogical.

Once again I’ll leave you to your own, rectal invisibility cloak thoughts.

[pixie374]

I'm more asking people who are claimimg colour doesn't matter, zacs.
It would make sense using a black woman to play Rosa Parkes, say. But James Bond, does it change the character or story? Really? Or is it just what people are used to?

[pixie374]

You don't have to answer, if you can't, zacs. Hardly a logical post, yourself.

[Mozz71]

Zacs, Bond has also been Scottish, Australian, Irish and most recently ginger. His literary counterpart was none of those things either. If they're allowable, why not his ethnicity?

[Zacs-Master]

I did answer. What’s illogical about preferring a white actor to play a role which was written as a white person?

[pixie374]

What's logical about it? Your vague attempt to generalise me, didn't answer the question of- why would it make a difference?

[Zacs-Master]

Let’s just stick to the broader black and white argument, eh Mozz. These threads tend to become tangential enough without any semantics.

[Zacs-Master]

What’s logical about a white personal playing a white character. Are you serious?

[pixie374]

Yes. A fictional spy. However, you freely admit it, I'm more interested in those who claim colour no longer needs to be mentioned, unless relevant.

[Zacs-Master]

Well, I suppose we agree on that. By the way, I also prefer Bond to drive an Aston Martin, wear a black DJ and drink his martini’s shaken not stirred. I suppose that puts me in danger of been an autoist, fashionist, drinkist.

[pixie374]

Depends how important they are to the plot, I guess.

[Ellipsis]

> Was being black a barrier to that achievement:
> North [South, actually] Pole: No

Clearly people disagree, which is what makes it news.

People have been trekking to the South Pole for over 100 years, so how come it's taken this long for a woman of colour to do so? Perhaps because there were barriers, much like there were barriers for Poitier, so it's a big deal that the barriers have been overcome now, much like it was a big deal that Poitier overcame them in a different sphere.

[Mozz71]

Zacs, the point I tried to make is that those things are unimportant in the grand scheme of things, just as his skin colour should be. Idris Elba (other actors are available) could theoretically play a Bond who is a hell of a lot closer to Fleming's original than the wisecracking buffoonery of Roger Moore's version. It isn't about the look, it's about the characterisation.