Given the specifics, I don’t see any problem with what she’s doing. It’s not like a white woman was being cast to play a black character instead of a black woman; she put together a one-woman show that she is the sole performer in. The library even (initially) asked her to play the black characters, then changed their mind.
If someone here disagrees, I’d be interested to hear why.
I agree. I don’t really see any problem with her performing the play.
BUT, I’m not sure the library should be forced to let her use the space (or be assessed civil penalties). So, I don’t think she should sue or that the suit should go her way.
I could be convinced if the library is supposed to be providing performing space to the public and the library is controlled/funded by the government. Then, I think she might have free speech protections, especially after they had done some scheduling. Asking her to change the characters definitely seems like content policing, not mere “time and manner” control.
I disagree with the way that the actress is responding - ie. Bewilderment as to why they would even find it to be an issue in the first place (thinking in a historical context, it obviously could be problematic).
However, it seems the actress was coming at it from a respectful point of view in the first place, had done her research, and did not intend to do any of the problematic things associated (eg. Blackface or an “accent”), so the library probably shouldn’t have had an issue with it.
Though I disagree with the library’s decision, I still stand with them that they can cancel whatever they want if they don’t want it shown at their establishment. You can’t force establishments to hold things.
Both the Library staff and the actress are both foolish and annoying and are both in the wrong. The library staff should have thought through their requested characters before asking certainly, but the fact she doesn’t see how it might be, ya know, just a little bit weird, is pretty telling for me.
And the lawyer reading an op ed and convincing her to sue, just puts a bad taste in my mouth. It’s like a legal trap kinda vibe.
At the end of the article the quote from the black actress I think eloquently summed up what feels weird about it.
As with 97% of problems (to quote Cool Hand Luke)
“What we have here…is a failure…to communicate!”
At the end of the article the quote from the black actress I think eloquently summed up what feels weird about it.
It’s a weird argument to make here, though, because this isn’t a white actor vs. black actor question at all. The library isn’t choosing between one or the other. There’s only one actor, no matter what characters are being played. If they were responding by saying “Actually we want to hire a black actor to play these characters,” I’d get it, and agree with that, but they aren’t. They’re just choosing to not have black figures represented at the performance at all, which seems… worse, somehow? I don’t know.
Here’s the issue everyone is dancing around. When the white lady plays a historical black character, is she going to imitate black speech? There’s a whole heaping mound of historical issues there that I’ll be disappointed if I have to explain to you.
Have you ever been to a historical reenactment? People dress in period costume, and typically talk like they are the people they are portraying.
The whole story isn’t worth dedicating brain cells too, but you asked to hear from someone who disagrees.
It’s an interesting question, but whose responsibility are you proposing it is to find another actress? Who’s paying that actress? Is the library going to pay twice as much, or is the existing actress expected to work the same amount of time for half the money to accommodate this second actress?
Given the specifics, I don’t see any problem with what she’s doing. It’s not like a white woman was being cast to play a black character instead of a black woman; she put together a one-woman show that she is the sole performer in. The library even (initially) asked her to play the black characters, then changed their mind.
If someone here disagrees, I’d be interested to hear why.
I agree. I don’t really see any problem with her performing the play.
BUT, I’m not sure the library should be forced to let her use the space (or be assessed civil penalties). So, I don’t think she should sue or that the suit should go her way.
I could be convinced if the library is supposed to be providing performing space to the public and the library is controlled/funded by the government. Then, I think she might have free speech protections, especially after they had done some scheduling. Asking her to change the characters definitely seems like content policing, not mere “time and manner” control.
People are generally not obligated to employ someone. It still is an issue if they decide to fire someone because of their race.
Employment is a necessity under Capitalism. Performance is not.
I disagree with the way that the actress is responding - ie. Bewilderment as to why they would even find it to be an issue in the first place (thinking in a historical context, it obviously could be problematic).
However, it seems the actress was coming at it from a respectful point of view in the first place, had done her research, and did not intend to do any of the problematic things associated (eg. Blackface or an “accent”), so the library probably shouldn’t have had an issue with it.
Though I disagree with the library’s decision, I still stand with them that they can cancel whatever they want if they don’t want it shown at their establishment. You can’t force establishments to hold things.
I disagree.
Both the Library staff and the actress are both foolish and annoying and are both in the wrong. The library staff should have thought through their requested characters before asking certainly, but the fact she doesn’t see how it might be, ya know, just a little bit weird, is pretty telling for me.
And the lawyer reading an op ed and convincing her to sue, just puts a bad taste in my mouth. It’s like a legal trap kinda vibe.
At the end of the article the quote from the black actress I think eloquently summed up what feels weird about it.
As with 97% of problems (to quote Cool Hand Luke) “What we have here…is a failure…to communicate!”
It’s a weird argument to make here, though, because this isn’t a white actor vs. black actor question at all. The library isn’t choosing between one or the other. There’s only one actor, no matter what characters are being played. If they were responding by saying “Actually we want to hire a black actor to play these characters,” I’d get it, and agree with that, but they aren’t. They’re just choosing to not have black figures represented at the performance at all, which seems… worse, somehow? I don’t know.
Here’s the issue everyone is dancing around. When the white lady plays a historical black character, is she going to imitate black speech? There’s a whole heaping mound of historical issues there that I’ll be disappointed if I have to explain to you.
Have you ever been to a historical reenactment? People dress in period costume, and typically talk like they are the people they are portraying.
The whole story isn’t worth dedicating brain cells too, but you asked to hear from someone who disagrees.
I understand your perspective, but you’ve denied the existence of a choice where there is one. Does it have to be a one-person show? Of course not.
It’s an interesting question, but whose responsibility are you proposing it is to find another actress? Who’s paying that actress? Is the library going to pay twice as much, or is the existing actress expected to work the same amount of time for half the money to accommodate this second actress?