What's your type?

April 19, 2012

What's your type?

If you’re black, get back.

If you’re brown, stick around.

If you’re yellow, you must be mellow.

If you’re white, you all right!

Seeking: African American Actor, friendly, but not too dark

This is from an actual casting call that was posted for a Japanese car commercial. Acura has denied having anything to do with the language of the casting call, and the casting agency, Ocean Park Casting, has declined to comment.

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Wesley Snipes- Too dark

In an age of plastic surgery, and hair extensions much can be done to change one’s God given appearance. Want to be a little bit darker? Get a tan. Want to be a little bit lighter? Bleach your skin. Want longer hair? Get extensions. Want less Negro or Asian features? Get plastic surgery. Want more Negro features? Get plastic surgery!

If we’re living in a world where physical appearance can be manufactured- why is the Acura commercial casting call such a big deal? And in a commercial industry where so few jobs are available for so many actors- maybe it would be wise to get bleached here, or pumped up there. After all, the ad calls for Black, but not too dark. Hmm…Sounds possible- we’re only talking a few shades right?

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Boris Kodjoe Too light

At the core of our country’s problem with race is the belief that there are characteristics suited to races because of physical factors. Intelligence, Physical Stamina, even Morals- were attributed to skin color. Along the color spectrum- lighter skin meant better, smarter, cleaner- darker skin meant bad, dirty, dumb. This was common knowledge during slavery, and post slavery- but after legal segregation ended it became socially unacceptable to say in public- but behind closed doors nothing changed.

For a long time, Blacks, Latinos, and Asians have had to fight to be seen as humans-let alone artists. Our identity has been policed in many ways by federal segregation, and racist theories. The Bachelor- a dating show- has never used non whites- and a lawsuit has been filed against the show. While it may seem like just a silly reality show, remember at one time it was forbidden for Black actors to be shown kissing, or embracing on Network television.

Denzel Washington- Just right

Commercial acting is a tough business all around. Actors just want to work. Everything is by type, and we all have many types (see below). We all hurt when we don’t get a job-Black, white, Asian, Latino, and our hurt really doesn’t have a color.

But what some white actors don’t have to deal with- is when their ethnicity and other unchangeable factors like skin color get in the way of their casting.

The Color Spectrum

Here are a few actors who have been "typed" based on their racial background. Note: Frances Nuyen, like the beautiful Nancy Kwan experienced backlash because of their European genes. They were told many times their eyes were not authentic enough by Asians, yet their ethnic 'softening' (and undeniable talent) was what enabled them to break down doors and become crossover stars.

Too this, too that!
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