As a film student, I see the opportunity for one of the best black representations in movie history. While 12 Years a Slave may hold a 96 per cent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, I took issue with it. There’s no denying the inherently horrific nature of its subject matter, but come on Steve McQueen. Do you really think Solomon Northup wanted his biopic to summarize his life as whipping and raping and more whipping?
Worse still, the film’s antagonist slave owner—who is rightfully construed as the most evil film character ever—was played by Michael Fassbender.
I’ve always thought the best way to progress with the filmic depictions of minorities is to be nonchalant. This doesn’t mean ignoring an appalling past. We need our 12 Years a Slave, Roots, and Amistads. But the argument that black people rarely get casual starring roles—roles that could have been written for anyone, but went to a black person simply because they had the chops—is a strong one.
George Lucas’ Star Wars series was a pioneer in making ‘black’ a non-event, thanks to Billy Dee Williams’ Lando Calrissian. Don’t nitpick that he was a traitor in cahoots with Darth Vader (the horrible villain played by black actor James Earl Jones).
A surefire Oscar nominee coming off of one of the most acclaimed, talked about films of the decade? Sure beats Hayden Christensen. The fact this his race doesn’t matter in all of this is kind of what makes it matter. The fourth-biggest film series of all time, starring a black person? Hollywood is beyond ready. It’s behind.
As a result, as long as these mega-movies, like Star Wars, The Avengers, Harry Potter, and company are being led by white heroes, that will be a status quo for the industry. I hope Ejiofor gets the part, whatever part it may be. And I hope that after this article, it’s never mentioned again that his character is black.
For the sake of its general quality, Star Wars VII needs a great, up-and-coming actor in its leading role, and (hypocritical as this may be) race needs to stop being part of such discussion.
If you don’t recognize that Ejiofor fits the bill, well… I find your lack of faith disturbing.
Dustin Dyer
Features Editor
