Race and Theatre

This is such a hard question to tackle because there is no true answer. At least that's what I think. I believe that Herrera's coalition casting approach sounds good, but it won't happen (to the level where it would benefit everyone). So, ultimately it's just "hogwash," to use Osi's word. So here are my thoughts based on a few statistics from the U.S. Census website for 2016.

White alone, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)(a)	76.9%
Black or African American alone, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)(a)	13.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)(a)	1.3%
Asian alone, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)(a)	5.7%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)(a)	0.2%
Two or More Races, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)	2.6%

Hispanic or Latino, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)(b)	17.8%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent, July 1, 2016, (V2016)	61.3%

So according to this chart, it's clear the there is one single race that is in the majority - White. So if we were going by representation alone by this chart's standards then the amount of representation on film/tv/theatre should be equivalent to these percentages. Though we all know that this is not the case. And I don't personally believe that representation should be based on percentage of population.  I think that results in more divisions between race (let's not get started on class and gender otherwise we'd be here all day).

I hear and/or read this same argument: "Well, most of the U.S. population is White so it makes sense that more White people are represented in the media." There are so many flaws here and it's too simplistic. It has a lot more to do with HOW each race is portrayed. And I think it's getting better, just not fast enough. 

This is from my own experience. I have always been told that I'm ethnically ambiguous, though never explicitly (let me explain) When I auditioned for an East Indian man/boy (I look like a child, I know), I was told I didn't look like an "Indian." Several casting directors told me I looked Hispanic or Middle Eastern. I've even gotten Sicilian/Dark Italian (yes a casting director actually said dark Italian). I have played more Hispanic and Italian roles than I have Indian. So I've submitted for those roles instead and then I was told I looked too Indian. So which is it? The point I'm trying to make is this: I don't think race SHOULD matter. It clearly does, but it shouldn't. The truth is most of the things I was cast in had no specific race requirement. A couple even wanted someone blonde hair and blue eyed and they cast me instead, but only because I submitted anyway.

If we can somehow move past this idea of a certain race for a specific role, unless it's truly necessary for the plot, then it would be a lot easier. Once again, not gonna happen anytime soon, but I see it here and there. I see it when I read scripts. There are certain roles (leads and supporting) where the character's race could be anything. I've seen so many casting calls where I read "Caucasian" or "African American," but after reading the script there is no reason why the character can't be any race. Unless your script is telling the story about the person's race then I don't think it's necessary to cast a specific race. Sure 12 Years A Slave was cast the way it was because of it's historical roots. Or Get Out was commenting on society idolizing the Black physique, but not the "Black Mind." It makes sense to cast it a certain way in those conditions. But I don't see why Goodburger couldn't have been cast more diversely. There is nothing that suggests that the main characters had to be black (I'm not saying that it was cast inappropriately). The same can be said about IT or Baby Driver. At the very least these stories seemed "generic" enough to cast it diversely. But this is an ideal and it's never going to happen. 

So what's my responsibility as an actor? Probably to submit myself for roles I fit. Meaning don't submit for Hispanic or whatever else. But the truth is I'm going to try to work as much as I can. That being said, many of the Hispanic roles I've submitted for didn't require a "Hispanic" accent. The stories had nothing to do with the Hispanic condition or that story/experience. SO WHY THE FUCK SHOULDN'T I SUBMIT?

This is my conclusion, as cynical and jaded as it may sound, especially after my experiences over spring break. Human Beings - ALL OF US, MYSELF INCLUDED - are basically trash; to varying degrees of course, but trash nonetheless. The ones in power are corrupt and want to stay that way for their own benefit and the ones that aren't will fight for power. It's a never ending cycle that we try to break and once we do, another oppressive regime will rise in it's place. Why? because human beings are innately corrupt and I don't think ENOUGH people can resist the temptation/allure of power and self preservation. Then again I've also met a lot of genuinely kind people too, but I believe that even they have a price. I include myself in this analysis of human beings as well. I know I'm not a saint, nor do I wish to be.

I guess what I'm really trying to say is that we need to have more people of color in media and not comment on their race. By this I mean, if their is an Indian person in a movie then there doesn't need to be a comment on the fact that he/she is Indian. The same goes for all other races. Think about most other movies. They don't always make comments on the fact the main character is Irish or Italian or British - they just are (this of course is omitting every movie based in NYC and Boston, but I think you get where I'm going with this). If we start seeing more people of color without that commentary, then I think it'll be easier for casting directors and the audience to picture people of color in different roles and not JUST the stereotype.