Is It Wrong For A White Person To Portray a Black Slave In A Play? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice Johnson · 07-10-2009, 11:30 AM

This is my new Dave story.

here is part 1!

Disclaimer: This will be a very short part. VERY SHORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In my school, Marshall Johnson Academy prep school for boys, the drama teacher Mr. Oleander, was having a play about White slave owners and African slaves. The play was set in 1820, in Georgia. I read the script, and I found that I wanted to be Tukus Alu, a slave. I felt I really connected to Tukus. I went up to Mr. Oleander and asked if I could read for Tukus. Mr. oleander looked at me in surprise. "Are you MAD, Dave? How can you play Tukus?

The reason he looked at me in surprise is because I am a White American boy. Tukus was a black man.

"No, I am not mad. I just want to read for Tukus," I told him softly.

"You're WHITE", Mr. Oleander said. "That would look awkward," he continued. "Why don't you play a slave owner?" He asked me.

"I don't want to play a slave owner. I want to play the slave," I answered.

Mr. Oleander stared at me for a long time, then sighed. "Okay, Dave, I'll let you read some for the part."

I squealed happily.

I took the script and read some of it it, as if I were Tukus. I read, "The White man took my ancestors from our beautiful motherland, Africa and forced us to work for him. I was born into slavery and I am now 20 years old, and have never known even one day of freedom. How I wish I had the freedom my ancestors once knew, over 100 hundred years ago. Oh, how I despise the White people. But, my mother tells me not to despise them and to love them instead. how can i love someone who improsoned me and my family unfairly? They even took my father away from us and sold him up the river. Now I only have memories of him. "

I conveyed real pain in my voice as I read this. I read it like I was a real slave.

Mr. Oleander looked pleasantly surprised. "Dave, you seem to really connect to the character. But,.... it would be awkward to have a White person talking like this. I'll have to let other people audition for this part."

"But, I'm great for this part!" I shouted emotionally.

"Sorry, but you do not look the part," Mr. Oleander said, softly.

I knew what he meant by that. I wasn't Black, so I wouldn't look right.

"Thank you for letting me read the part out loud," I told him sadly and softly.

"You're welcome," he told me with a reluctant face.

I left, sadly.

MickeyMac · 07-10-2009, 04:26 PM

I think a black slave should be played by a black actor. Thats just my take.

TripperFan · 07-10-2009, 04:32 PM

To me, playing another race has never worked. Checkout some of the old hollywood movies (and even M*A*S*H at times) where they'd have some white guy trying to play Japanese or something. There's plenty of actors of all races to go around nowadays.
I still laugh when I think they used a southern Italian guy to play the crying Native Indian in the old littering commercial.

Put it this way Janice - two words......WHITE CHICKS.

Brad Russ · 07-10-2009, 11:12 PM

I can't say if it's wrong or right, who am I to judge? I do know though that it's something that I would stear clear from, and would probably find distasteful to say the very least. More important than my feelings though, I can only imagine how some black people would feel about that. I see no problem with a white person playing a black person, or vice versa, I just think when you're dealing with something as serious as slavery, you have to be very careful. That's obviously a very sensitive subject. That's my opinion for what it's worth.

MrCleveland · 07-11-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pus$y Galore

To me, playing another race has never worked. Checkout some of the old hollywood movies (and even M*A*S*H at times) where they'd have some white guy trying to play Japanese or something. There's plenty of actors of all races to go around nowadays.
I still laugh when I think they used a southern Italian guy to play the crying Native Indian in the old littering commercial.

Put it this way Janice - two words......WHITE CHICKS.

Here's what I have to say...

Unless your name is Al Jolson or Eddie Cantor...DON'T go for it!

Penny Lane · 07-11-2009, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pus$y Galore

To me, playing another race has never worked. Checkout some of the old hollywood movies (and even M*A*S*H at times) where they'd have some white guy trying to play Japanese or something. There's plenty of actors of all races to go around nowadays.
I still laugh when I think they used a southern Italian guy to play the crying Native Indian in the old littering commercial.

Put it this way Janice - two words......WHITE CHICKS.

Haha! John Wayne played Ghengis Khan in "The Conqueror"

MonarC · 07-11-2009, 11:29 AM

How about not doing a play about slavery at all.

JAlanRuss72 · 07-11-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Little Mel

I can't say if it's wrong or right, who am I to judge? I do know though that it's something that I would stear clear from, and would probably find distasteful to say the very least. More important than my feelings though, I can only imagine how some black people would feel about that. I see no problem with a white person playing a black person, or vice versa, I just think when you're dealing with something as serious as slavery, you have to be very careful. That's obviously a very sensitive subject. That's my opinion for what it's worth.

Agreed.

OH Nuts! · 07-11-2009, 11:54 AM

I suppose in theory a white male could do this BUT I think everyone would be so focused on the fact that the actor was white. I also think its likely to stir up a lot of resentment and offend sensitivities- and I do think these need to be factored in. So unless the actor is willing to face a lot of ILL sentiment AND is a DAMN good actor - good enough in fact to so mesmerise an audience that they forget he's white - he should skip it.

Janice Johnson · 07-11-2009, 05:27 PM

Oh my god. Around the time I was writing this story, I watched an episode of Sister Sister called, " Kid In Play." This WHITE girl(really White) was auditioning for a role of a black girl, and she read from the script, "I'm just a poor black girl from the slums." The director said, "NEXT!"

JamesG · 07-11-2009, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pus$y Galore

To me, playing another race has never worked. Checkout some of the old hollywood movies (and even M*A*S*H at times) where they'd have some white guy trying to play Japanese or something. There's plenty of actors of all races to go around nowadays.
I still laugh when I think they used a southern Italian guy to play the crying Native Indian in the old littering commercial.

Put it this way Janice - two words......WHITE CHICKS.

One of my "favorites" has to be Mickey Rooney as "Mr. Yunioshi" in Breakfast at Tiffany's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwlkAk8bd5c

Mr. Television · 07-11-2009, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penny Lane

Haha! John Wayne played Ghengis Khan in "The Conqueror"

I like John Wayne but that role was embarrassing.

Janice Johnson · 07-12-2009, 08:41 AM

I guess it could be awkward to have Dave, a White boy play a Black slave. It would be like a Black person playing a Ku Klux Klan member. Maybe not. I doubt any Black person would touch the KKK with a 10 foot pole. The KKK is just nasty.

TripperFan · 07-12-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice Johnson

I guess it could be awkward to have Dave, a White boy play a Black slave. It would be like a Black person playing a Ku Klux Klan member. Maybe not. I doubt any Black person would touch the KKK with a 10 foot pole. The KKK is just nasty.

As would most whites these days - I sure wouldn't want to portray a Klan member. And yah, you're sort of right with that comparison. It would be too distracting at the very least.

TripperFan · 07-12-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penny Lane

Haha! John Wayne played Ghengis Khan in "The Conqueror"

OMG - I forgot about that movie!! ROFL

Also - Yul Brynner playing the King of Siam in "The King and I"!

07-10-2009, 11:30 AM	#1
Janice Johnson Commercial Lover Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 30, 2003 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 4,740	Is It Wrong For A White Person To Portray a Black Slave In A Play? This is my new Dave story. here is part 1! Disclaimer: This will be a very short part. VERY SHORT!!!!!!!!!!!!! In my school, Marshall Johnson Academy prep school for boys, the drama teacher Mr. Oleander, was having a play about White slave owners and African slaves. The play was set in 1820, in Georgia. I read the script, and I found that I wanted to be Tukus Alu, a slave. I felt I really connected to Tukus. I went up to Mr. Oleander and asked if I could read for Tukus. Mr. oleander looked at me in surprise. "Are you MAD, Dave? How can you play Tukus? The reason he looked at me in surprise is because I am a White American boy. Tukus was a black man. "No, I am not mad. I just want to read for Tukus," I told him softly. "You're WHITE", Mr. Oleander said. "That would look awkward," he continued. "Why don't you play a slave owner?" He asked me. "I don't want to play a slave owner. I want to play the slave," I answered. Mr. Oleander stared at me for a long time, then sighed. "Okay, Dave, I'll let you read some for the part." I squealed happily. I took the script and read some of it it, as if I were Tukus. I read, "The White man took my ancestors from our beautiful motherland, Africa and forced us to work for him. I was born into slavery and I am now 20 years old, and have never known even one day of freedom. How I wish I had the freedom my ancestors once knew, over 100 hundred years ago. Oh, how I despise the White people. But, my mother tells me not to despise them and to love them instead. how can i love someone who improsoned me and my family unfairly? They even took my father away from us and sold him up the river. Now I only have memories of him. " I conveyed real pain in my voice as I read this. I read it like I was a real slave. Mr. Oleander looked pleasantly surprised. "Dave, you seem to really connect to the character. But,.... it would be awkward to have a White person talking like this. I'll have to let other people audition for this part." "But, I'm great for this part!" I shouted emotionally. "Sorry, but you do not look the part," Mr. Oleander said, softly. I knew what he meant by that. I wasn't Black, so I wouldn't look right. "Thank you for letting me read the part out loud," I told him sadly and softly. "You're welcome," he told me with a reluctant face. I left, sadly.

07-10-2009, 04:32 PM	#3
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	To me, playing another race has never worked. Checkout some of the old hollywood movies (and even MAS*H at times) where they'd have some white guy trying to play Japanese or something. There's plenty of actors of all races to go around nowadays. I still laugh when I think they used a southern Italian guy to play the crying Native Indian in the old littering commercial. Put it this way Janice - two words......WHITE CHICKS.
	__________________ If I don't see you in this world, I'll meet you in the next one.....don't be late James Marshall Hendrix Voodoo Chile The Forum Legend formerly known as TripperFan "religion is for people who are afraid of hell--spirituality is for people who have been through hell"---anonymous

07-10-2009, 11:12 PM	#4
Brad Russ Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 17, 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 10,085	I can't say if it's wrong or right, who am I to judge? I do know though that it's something that I would stear clear from, and would probably find distasteful to say the very least. More important than my feelings though, I can only imagine how some black people would feel about that. I see no problem with a white person playing a black person, or vice versa, I just think when you're dealing with something as serious as slavery, you have to be very careful. That's obviously a very sensitive subject. That's my opinion for what it's worth.
	__________________ St. John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Currently my favorite song.

07-10-2009, 04:26 PM	#2
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	I think a black slave should be played by a black actor. Thats just my take.

07-11-2009, 11:29 AM	#7
MonarC The truth will set you free Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Location: 3rd Stone From The Sun Posts: 9,525	How about not doing a play about slavery at all.

07-11-2009, 11:54 AM	#9
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	I suppose in theory a white male could do this BUT I think everyone would be so focused on the fact that the actor was white. I also think its likely to stir up a lot of resentment and offend sensitivities- and I do think these need to be factored in. So unless the actor is willing to face a lot of ILL sentiment AND is a DAMN good actor - good enough in fact to so mesmerise an audience that they forget he's white - he should skip it.

07-11-2009, 05:27 PM	#10
Janice Johnson Commercial Lover Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 30, 2003 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 4,740	Oh my god. Around the time I was writing this story, I watched an episode of Sister Sister called, " Kid In Play." This WHITE girl(really White) was auditioning for a role of a black girl, and she read from the script, "I'm just a poor black girl from the slums." The director said, "NEXT!"

07-12-2009, 08:41 AM	#13
Janice Johnson Commercial Lover Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 30, 2003 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 4,740	I guess it could be awkward to have Dave, a White boy play a Black slave. It would be like a Black person playing a Ku Klux Klan member. Maybe not. I doubt any Black person would touch the KKK with a 10 foot pole. The KKK is just nasty.