Recently, TheYBF, shared an extremely disturbing post about the casting call requirements that were posted, regarding the up and coming NWA Biopic. Honestly, while I was reading the casting call, I laughed to myself thinking, "This can't be real." However, Universal Studios released a statement saying, that the release of the casting call was not "approved" and that it was an "innocent mistake". Hmmmm... I was born in the morning, not THIS morning. It's more than evident that the requirements listed on that casting call, were thoroughly thought out. But what bothers me more is that there are people who are buying it!
Referring to women in groups of A through D, (A being the best. *rolls eyes*), and making it clear as to who is worthy of more "movie time" based merely on a woman's complexion, ethnicity, or if she wears weave, is not only ridiculous but a blatant display of RACISM.
REALLY?! You have to be kidding me! Group A girls are “the hottest of the hottest” because they “MUST have real hair – no extensions, very classy looking, great bodies” and the requirements for Group D are, “African American girls. Poor, not in good shape, Medium to dark skin tone”. Besides being EXTREMELY offended, I am saddened more than anything! I’m saddened with the fact that thoughts, opinions, and behavior like this, still exists in 2014. I know my history, therefore I know where this stems from. But to see people still deeming African American girls as being “Poor” simply because they aren’t a size 2, are dark skin, or wear a weave (and let’s be clear, ALL RACES WEAR WEAVE), is pathetic and disheartening.
*side note* Did they really provide Beyonce as a prototype for Group B, when the requirements are, “Long natural hair, really nice bodies. Small waists, nice hips. You should be light-skinned” ?! … Well chile, Beyonce only fits 3 out of the 4 of those preferences because WE ALL KNOW, Beyonce is lace-fronted, 4/5-brazilian bundled, and bleached-out Honey! NO SHADE, NO SHADE!
But seriously ya’ll, we cannot continue to let these company execs continue to feed self-hatred or racism to our society and most importantly, our youths. We cannot continue to allow them to place those who THEY deem as beautiful or worthy of being accepted, into groups that are completely degrading. I’m sure they will use more discretion and be more careful with their choice of words in the future after this, but they don’t have to say it for us to know what they are thinking. It’s time that we as a people, of all shades and colors, call out those who make racist and belittling remarks about US, and stop supporting THEM.
To conclude, I myself, being a dark skinned black woman, has never had to deal directly with the ignorance of those whose mission it is to make women that look like me, feel bad about themselves. But I know plenty of women and young girls, who have. My future baby girl, will have skin as smooth and as a dark as a Hershey’s kiss, like mine, will KNOW that she is beautiful.
We can’t rely on the media to teach our children to love themselves, because they have made it clear, TOO MANY TIMES, how they feel about us. It’s our job to do that at home.
Best,
Kayla
