theessentialsofcool:

I must confess that it’s something that has always irked me to a degree.  I’ve discussed this in the past in regards to Maya Rudolph and her movie, Away We Go.  Lately, we seem to routinely be given the pairing of a white man with a racially ambiguous woman…

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I would just like to say that this is a very well written article about something that’s always bothered me about certain films and TV shows, however have found it difficult to put my finger on. It’s pretty cool to see it addressed and though your article is a little short and I would have loved to hear more, I’m thankful to hear it. Although, I think I may have a completely different spin on it:

I don’t think I want these or other actresses like them to be held accountable for their Black-ness, so to speak. But I do want them to tell the stories or at least feature their mixed roots. I feel like it must be hard to grow up between two or more cultures but you rarely hear that story. Imitation of Life is one of my favorite films. I saw it at a very young age when my mother showed it to me and I have seen it several times since. I love the plot, I love the acting, I love it! But I especially love that there’s a portrayal of a girl wanting to be white and trying to escape all that is Black. For a movie like that to be made in 1959 (my favorite version. There was another done in 1934) is impressive and just goes to show that for a long time this has been an issue. It would make for better character development if what it means to be mixed was featured more often amongst mixed actors and actresses.

Multiculturalism is such a real thing in today’s society and it’s not enough to just see the Black or White of things, to see Hispanic or Asian. Everyone seems to have a little of this or that, and whether that’s true or not (because you know folks love to think they might be anything other than who they are), people are at least being influenced by a multitude of cultures. So where are these stories and why don’t mixed people want to express this fight they’ve had or still have within themselves?

I’ve read both White Teeth and On Beauty by Zadie Smith and applaud her for her boldness on the approach of mixed families. She grew up in a home like that and it’s fantastic for her to feature it in her novels. It’s especially interesting that she features it without overdoing it. A multi-cultural family is apart of her book but it isn’t THE book. If screenwriters are afraid of pushing the issue, then obviously they’re in the wrong profession. Just because Maya Rudolph and Rashida Jones look racially vague doesn’t mean their character must remain that way also. Writers need to step up their game, as do directors, to at least crack the surface on this. Because I am not mixed, I would want to hear those stories. I would want them to feel real and get a better understanding of those who identify with more than one race.

I’m a big fan of Maya Rudolph and I think Away We Go was the best portrayal of a relationship in films I’ve seen lately. And I’m not a huge fan of romance or romantic comedies so that’s saying something! I thought the movie was just right. I don’t think I had a problem like you did about her being without Black friends because all of my close friends are not Black. In fact, I’ve been without Black friends for a long time. Then again, I grew up in San Antonio, Texas where the population is mainly Mexican-American. It’s still been easy to be around people of color in that respect. All in all, though, I know how it feels not to have that kind of community around you. But yes, I did have a problem with who she was being put aside. And that’s all it’s really about: the individual. She didn’t have to have Black friends or go to a Black school or even live in a neighborhood who’s residents were mainly Black. She didn’t even have to be Black. But she could have been at least biracial. I know that sounds crazy and a bit of a conundrum but like I said, it’s not enough to see it just Black and White anymore (pun intended). We could at least see more of what it means to be multiracial in a multicultural world in movies, books, and on TV. I can’t wait to hear those stories. I’m just hoping it happens sooner than later. Again, thanks for writing something that has been often overlooked. It’s good discourse. I can’t wait to see Bridesmaids too!