White actress sues San Diego County Library for not allowing her to portray Black civil rights icons
White actress sues San Diego County Library for not allowing her to portray Black civil rights icons
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.
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!"
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.
‘I can’t explain [why we think you shouldn't include these characters in your one-woman play]. And frankly, I’m quite baffled that you don’t understand.'
Okay but if you can't explain your position, why would you assume others can understand your position?
Because it would be clear discrimination, and they weren't quite dumb enough to put it down in black and white
Honestly I'd let her
It is up to her not to upset people
What a garbage headline. Its one-woman show, she's playing everybody.
Glad im not alone in thinking this. After seeing the headline I was like, um... the nerve on this bitch. Then i read the article and was like, well maybe the library is the bitch in question