Race Face Place

Stop prioritizing bigoted criteria in entertainment products

The perceived race of actors, cartoon characters, and figurines in toys, should not be as contentious a topic as it is — other than we need more variety than we see today.

I’m of the opinion that a random smack of different colors and races through all our entertainment products will desensitize us to this irrelevant detail so we can focus on those things that matter most — plot, story, etc.

Normalize unexpected faces in familiar places.

Yes, make parents and children different races in movies, no explanation is required. Yes randomly hire races based on the best acting, not the race of the actor.

Let’s get on with bringing focus to what matters and at the same time not continue to sideline minority faces as if their face is what matters most.

If the thought of white actors playing American slaves, black actors playing Tarzan and Einstein, Native American people playing King Lear, or Asians playing Vikings, troubles you or inspires you, share your thoughts and have a discussion. Get to the root of these unspoken feelings.

Air these thoughts out publicly already until this is no longer an awkward or dangerous topic.

I say bring on a healthy variety of faces to remove color’s otherwise implied significance.

I’m not of the opinion that entertainment needs to, or even benefits from, being historically accurate where race is concerned.

Our imaginations should be free to see any race of people in any role.

Movies, toys, and illustrations build the foundations of our imagination as children and adults. They shape our expectations.

We know people are people. Let’s get on with promoting the idea that color should not be seen as a reasonable filter for human potential.