Surely NOT everything is racism!

The world has certainly taken leave of its senses (if it had any to begin with?!)!!!

Yes, racism must be awful and yes, it exists as there are indeed many brainless people out there who would seek to harm or disadvantage others, simply because they do not look like them. And the convenient collective use of terms such as ‘white’ or ‘black’ to lump people together and just categorically state what they stand for, is obviously laughable. BUT, for goodness sake!!!! not every societal ill or any slight or disparaging remark is sourced out of racism!!

This morning, I read an article relating to the 11-Academy Award nominated movie that features Michelle Yeoh whom many will recognise from several Chinese films but in particular, Crouching Tiger: Hidden Dragon from 2000. The article complains that she found Hollywood racist and claim she was once told: “oh, so you speak English”!
Well, for goodness sake! If I was a known Bollywood superstar and one day show up in China, speaking fluent Mandarin, possibly some may be surprised and mention it?
I am not declaring that Hollywood is a racism-free zone, I am not in the movie business and couldn’t comment, but for crying out loud! How many Caucasians or Africans or Indo-Pakistanis have become superstars in the Chinese movie industry? Do they feature them? When Michelle was winning every award in Asia for her Chinese films, did she spare a thought for people who can’t be in Chinese films as they don’t fit in?
Yes, Hollywood should represent a free for all talent scenario, regardless of where people are from, if there’s a movie to be made, use the best qualified folk. But as it is in the U.K., if we continue to produce a bunch of “period dramas” supposedly based on the 1700s or 1800s, having an African play Lord Burnley or the Queen, is clearly not going to be realistic, unless we all ditch our silly spectacles and accept a play or film is not real, and even if it is biographical, and Matt Damon plays Mandela, then in the context that we all know he is just “playing” Mandela, what could be wrong with that? Who has seen God? (well, he’s been “played” by all sorts of actors and actresses over the years right?). Until we get to the point where people can understand that anyone can and should be able to play anyone, we cannot complain too much, if Chinese movies are not filled with Caucasians or if a Malaysian lady or Chinese lady finds there are not a bunch of roles to play in Hollywood (after she spent decades at the top of the pile in Hong Kong). To try to phrase this as racism is just bizarre

Creativeness or Creativity is what’s required. And perhaps, a bit of common sense from the viewing public, to break down the silly barriers that can open opportunities to actors and actresses where ever they wish to work, if they have the required skills to do so, same as for most vocation. But if creativity is lacking, and a period drama is only deemed authentic if Caucasians play Caucasians and the storyline must reflect historical fact, then the blame (and possibly stupidity) is on us all, the viewing public.

Everyone wants to have a moan! But given the opportunity, we are probably as bad as each other