re: Is Jefferey Wright’s “Commisioner Gordon” been the only acceptable DEI/woke hire?

quote:

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How come there has never been a race swap for historically black characters or roles? Can you think of 1?

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I asked AI

Yes. Historically, Hollywood has a well-documented track record of casting white actors in roles meant for Black characters. This practice—often referred to as whitewashing or the legacy of blackface—has spanned both fictional characters and real-life historical figures.

Notable examples include:

A Mighty Heart (2007): White actress Angelina Jolie was cast as Mariane Pearl, a real-life Afro-French journalist of Martinican descent. The filmmakers used bronzer and altered her hair to play the role.

Othello (1965): In this film adaptation of the classic Shakespearean play, white actor Laurence Olivier played the titular Moor (historically a Black or North African character) in heavy blackface.

The Conqueror (1956): White actor John Wayne was infamously cast as Genghis Khan, a historical Mongolian figure.

Soul Man (1986): While a fictional story, this comedy featured a white actor (C. Thomas Howell) who darkens his skin and pretends to be Black in order to secure a minority scholarship.

Are there any specific eras or types of films (e.g., historical dramas versus fiction) you are interested in looking into? I can provide more details on specific controversies or production choices.