Dear Zoe,
First of all, let me say, I’m a huge fan. I loved Columbiana and I think you are super pretty. I like how when you are interviewed you are smart, witty, politically aware, and fun. I like how when you were asked if you were black or Latina you responded in Spanish, “Yo soy una mujer negra.” I like how you support President Obama and make it known that there are issues in the world you care about. Oh, and those Lens Crafter’s ads are fabulous.
As of late you have found yourself a source of contention in the black entertainment world. Many black female celebrities have expressed their outrage that you were chosen to portray Nina Simone in a movie about her life, and these are not light weight entertainers we are talking about. India Arie and Whoopi Goldberg, who Simone herself wished to portray her, have expressed their distaste in your being cast.
Why are they outraged? Well, you are not a woman of African-American heritage like Simone, nor are your features as unique as Simone’s were. She was dark-skinned and wide nosed at a time when those characteristics were rarely seen in entertainment (still true). This was a point of pride for Simone. She wrote songs about her dark brown skin, wooly hair, and wide nose.
I get their outrage, Zoe. I understand why it is frustrating for them and many others to see you cast as Nina Simone, when there are many actresses out there who look more like her. But Zoe, I think they are misdirecting their anger. The bigger issue is why is there one movie about a black woman being made that all the black actresses in Hollywood are scrambling to get? That is the bigger issue. That is the white elephant.
I saw the pictures of you with the dark makeup and the wig and the prosthetic nose. I had to swallow down my initial feelings of disgust since I couldn’t help but be reminded of black-faced actors of years past. But Zoe, here is where I think you missed an opportunity. Wouldn’t it have been so awesome if you had cut your own hair and worn it natural for the part? Wouldn’t it have been cool if you had laid out in the sun and let yourself brown (and girl, I know you can)? Plus, wouldn’t it have been out of this world amazing if you too had spoken out about the lack of roles for black women in entertainment? And I’m sorry, but Obama being president does not magically open doors for black actors, come on, get real. Now, I am not of the camp that believes you should have turned down the part. I think you are a great actress and its tough times, a job is a job. I just wanted to point out to you Zoe, that it would’ve been really nice and empowering to all women of color if you had highlighted your own natural black beauty.
Stay strong. Do not let anyone try to quantify or qualify your blackness. Tu eres una mujer negra, just as I am, just as Ms. Goldberg is, just as Ms. Arie is. I can state with confidence, without any personal knowledge, that being a brown person in America, you have felt the burn of discrimination, racism, and the frustration of trying to meet a closed-minded definition of beauty. So, that is what I had to say to you Zoe.
Best of luck with your film. Oh, one last thing, usually unauthorized biographical films where the reaming family members refuse to sign on are not the best…I’m just saying.
XOXO,
Chickincolor
chixincolor 