cherita :: a tumblelog

THIS. Pretty much sums up how I feel about THG movie casting (although I’m less inclined to think Katniss was supposed to be Greek or Italian, considering all the other racial overtones present in the book and Katniss being from the Appalachians).

stfuconservatives:

Before I get any more Asks about my feelings re: Katniss and Jennifer Lawrence, read this. I’ve gotten messages saying “they auditioned for talent, not skin color” and “Katniss wasn’t Black in the books.” No, folks, no. The point, you have missed it. The casting call was for whites only and that’s why I have an issue with it.

Katniss is described as olive-skinned with black hair and gray eyes. In terms of ethnic population, the Appalachian region has plenty of people who could be described as olive-skinned, particularly Native Americans and Italians who immigrated in the early 1900s. There are people today who are white who have an “olive complexion” — most folks with southern Italian or Greek backgrounds, for instance. So yes, Katniss could be played by a white person and still be honest to the books. But the fact that the casting call was for whites ONLY means that Native, Hispanic, and biracial actresses weren’t even considered for the part. They cast a blonde, blue-eyed actress and dyed her hair.

I have no issue with Jennifer Lawrence. She did a great job. But don’t pretend she was the only person who could have possibly played this role. If they’d auditioned actresses of every race and ultimately decided on Jennifer Lawrence, I’d have a lot less of a problem with it. But they didn’t. They didn’t even consider non-white actresses for her, and probably not for Gale either (who’s supposed to look a lot like Katniss).

-Jess