Did you see what Rodriguez said to TMZ (video details) about rather she’d been cast as the new Green Lantern:
I think it’s so stupid for everybody — because of this whole, you know, ‘minorities in Hollywood’ thing…But it’s so stupid, it’s like, stop stealing all the white people’s superheroes. Make up your own, you know what I’m saying? Like, what’s up with that?
This is going to be short and sweet. As a nerd girl who grew up reading comic books back in the day I would like to tell Michelle she’s wrong that People of Color (POC), Women and LGBT (I added that) need to create their own mythology and heroes. We are creating our own characters but we have the same love for Superman, Wonderwoman, Batman, Aquaman and the Green Lantern (well I like him have never been super into that character) as the people who created them. Even more importantly Stan Lee himself (the GOD of comic books) says he’s HAPPY to have his characters evolve to keep up with society well what they heck now I’ve taken a little creative license paraphrase on it but click on link for direct quote (MTV Splashpage). These are fictional characters and as such as the current artists change them to reflect new storylines to keep them fresh well yes they might change color or sexuality or gender and that’s OK since Hollywood has a bad habit of whitewashing characters all the time. I can’t say how frustrated I am when they decide to cast a blonde woman in Akira or that it’s always OK to blind cast as long as it’s to white people. I like to see people who look like me reflected not just as background standins but as supporting cast members and STARS! She might be one of the chosen favorite few who get roles that normally would go to a white woman or man but she needs to acknowledge her privilege of being a light complexioned beautiful hispanic woman. The same as Zoe is getting color blind casting and is treated like an ‘exotic’ beauty as opposed as being considered Black or Latino. It seems as if some of these actors who are the chosen few to be able to transcend their race instead of helping others are just enjoying their privilege and leaving the rest behind. So instead of standing with the power class why don’t you stand with you fans? Why don’t you stand with other actors who want to be judged on talent instead of dismissed because they are Black, Mexican, Korean, Jewish and don’t look ‘white’ enough to be one of the chosen few? I say SHAME on you Michelle and Jennifer Lopez and Zoe Saldana and Anthony Mackie (to name a few) for not supporting other actors! I’m frustrated that when they have a new movie out all of a sudden they are down with brown and will give interviews to Latina Magazine, Ebony and sites to reach out to fellow POCs to get our dollar bills but they aren’t with us to voice that their should be more inclusion. Instead I hear them say that color doesn’t matter and it doesn’t for THEM! Since they are the lucky exception to the rules and as long as they get their money they are OK with it. But yet they still want OUR support to buy tickets for their movies but don’t want to be considered as one of ‘us’. So they can try to hoard all the good but eventually their fans will find actors who do WHO will be honest about not only their privilege but that image matters. Seeing a hero that looks like ‘me’ is life affirming and Hollywood better wise up to the changing demographics of not only the US but the world. White might right to them but GREEN is what funds the business! Oh and by the way Michelle if you don’t want to role am sure that a lot of kickass women of color can take the role and OWN it so step aside!
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