Racial Depictions in Media Explored

Sophomore Carson Alexander spoke in chapel about whitewashing, blackwashing, and the representation of race in the media. He described whitewashing as an alteration of a character’s skin color from black/brown to white. As an example, he cited the decision in the movie Bullet Train to cast white actors instead of the Asian characters from the novel.
“By altering the racial identities of these characters, the film not only misrepresented the source material but also reinforced Hollywood’s longstanding history of sidelining Asian actors in favor of white performers,” he said.

Blackwashing occurs when a traditionally Caucasian character is changed to Black, he said. This charge arose when Halle Bailey was cast as Ariel in the 2023 live-action movie The Little Mermaid.

“While I think that a fictional character like a mermaid is not race-specific … it raises a fundamental question: What truly defines a character? Is it their skin color or ethnicity? Or is it their personality, values, and story arc?”

Alexander quoted Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Alexander said he supported the choice of Bailey for the role. “While Ariel was depicted as white in the animation, Ariel’s curiosity, adventurous spirit, resilience, and powerful singing voice were traits mirrored by Halle Bailey, leading to her casting.”

He shared an anecdote about dressing up as Harry Potter for Halloween in 2023 and meeting with criticism. “It isn’t right that I’m disqualified [to dress as] Harry Potter just because we don’t share the same skin color, when we actually share a lot in common. We are both skilled sportsmen, students led by curiosity, loyal friends, and ambitious go-getters. … The content of my character should speak for me.”

He posed the following questions:

“How do you think representation in media impacts our society?"

“Do you believe race should play a role in character adaptation, or should a character’s essence matter more?”

He concluded, “Whether it’s in the stories we tell, the communities we support, or the actions we take, we all have a role in making the world a more inclusive place. What steps will you take to ensure fair representation and inclusiveness in your own circles?”
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