What is Whitewashing?

It's hard to believe that such an old practice is still so prevalent in Hollywood in 2016. Whitewashing is a casting practice in the film industry of the United States in which white actors are cast in historically non-white character roles. 

The older examples of white men having their faces painted yellow to portray Asians or black to portray African Americans are cliche' in telling of old Hollywood's ugly history of racism. But the examples that come right out of 2016 reveal that Hollywood's history of racism is still alive and well.... almost 100 years later. 

Just to name a few: 

God's of Egypt came out in February of 2016. It received backlash from several directors and writers due to the casting. Mainly pointing out that the main character was casted as a white dude (as pictured below). 

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot came out in March of 2016. It received backlash from both critics and activists because of a major casting problem, the two main Afghan characters are played by white dudes (as pictured below). 

And going into 2017, Matt Damon is facing criticism for his role in the upcoming China-Hollywood production The Great Wall. Critics claim that this role should have gone to an Asian actor. Damon (as pictured below) plays a British mercenary in the Middle Kingdom. The first trailer sparked criticism in the U.S. that a white man had been chosen to play the lead in a film set in China meant to showcase Chinese culture. Critics have a problem with the fact that a white man is set to save the world... again. This should have been an opportunity to cast someone of the appropriate culture to be depicted as the hero. 

Hollywood has to get out of their we-can-cast-a-white-dude-to-play-every-character bubble. There are many opportunities for diversity being missed. Going forward, I hope the backlash from critics, writers, directors, and patrons of Hollywood will remedy the issue of the lack of diversity.