Document Type

Opinion Piece

Whitewashing in Hollywood silently affects our children

Authors

Sam Tracy

Publication Title

The Maine Campus

Publication Date

11-23-2016

Abstract/ Summary

The reaction to the 2016 Oscars, which birthed the trending topic #OscarsSoWhite on Twitter, highlights a serious problem in our country — a lack of representation for non-white communities. Watching a movie in the 1950s is still somehow reminiscent of today. We have put an end to blackface, the practice of coloring a white person’s face with paint to fill the role of a historically non-white character without hiring an accurate representative. Yet major blockbuster films did not commonly hire non-white characters for major roles until just recently. Our movies now typically feature a white cast, with the exception of a few minor roles played by people of color. For the second year in a row, the Oscars failed to recognize the comparatively few roles played by minorities. By doing so, the institution feeds into an endless cycle.

Comments

Content captured from The Maine Campus website by by Kimberly Sawtelle, Library Specialist CLIII, on January 16, 2021.

Identifier

Racial Justice_Maine Campus_2021_01_16w

Repository Citation

Tracy, Sam, "Whitewashing in Hollywood silently affects our children" (2016). Social Justice: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. 44.
https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/social_justice/44

Version

publisher's version of the published document

Rights and Access Note

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for educational uses. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).