Lähdetään aluksi siitä, että Dwayne ”The Rock” Johnsonin isä on tummaihoinen kanadalainen ja äiti on samoalainen. Tämän takia The Rock on aiemmin näytellyt monenlaisia, eri kulttuuritaustaisia rooleja. Nyt kuitenkin kuppi kääntyi nurin.
Johnson on pestattu näyttelemään amerikkalaista tummaihoista sankaria John Henryä Netflixin John Henry and the Statesmen -elokuvaan. Ihmiset reagoivat vahvasti: hän ei kuulemma ole tarpeeksi tummaihoinen ja on muutenkin liian vanha.
Spoileri: John Henry oli entinen orja, joka taisteli työpaikkansa puolesta 1800-luvun lopulla, kun teollistumisen myötä miesvoiman tilalle olivat tulossa erilaiset mekaaniset porauslaitteet. Henry kisaili laitetta vastaan ja voitti sen, mutta kuoli samalla rasituksen aiheuttamaan sydänkohtaukseen.
Myös näyttelijättäret Zoe Saldana ja Amandla Stenberg ovat joutuneet ryöpytyksen kohteiksi, koska eivät ole kuulemma tarpeeksi tummaihoisia rooleihinsa.
Alla Twitterin parhaita paloja.
https://twitter.com/C_Rich75/status/1050078989396713472
I'm going to shut all the haters up real quick. Any black person who says that @TheRock is not black enough to play the role of #JohnHenry is equally full of as much bullshit as a racist white person who won't accept mixed people back in the day #BullShit @SevenBucksProd
— Simply Real (@James_D_Swanson) October 10, 2018
Like Dwayne Johnson identifies as black now? Where this come from? And how you gonna cast him as a man who is an African American folk hero?
— Natalie M Daniel (@nat_jones2017) October 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/raindancers12/status/1050060477747871744
Historically, John Henry’s always been depicted as having a *very* dark skin complexion and while Dwayne Johnson is undeniably a black man, this is all quite 🧐🧐🧐.
I’m legitimately curious who the target audience for this movie is meant to be.
— Charles PM (@CharlesPulliam) October 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/CorbinPatrick27/status/1050739497661534209
@TheRock Gm brother. I am a 52 yr old Black Male and just wanted to say that I am proud of you for taking on the legend of John Henry. Ignore the ignorant #Colorism If I may recommend a book, John Henry: Tracking down a Negro Legend by Guy B. Johnson as a reference. #JohnHenry
— Ian Burrowes (@ChessMandingo) October 12, 2018
For man who NEVER publicly talks about being black, this is 2 little 2 late and 2 WRONG! (taking Zoe Saldana route – not smart) How r u going 2 work a white woman as your love interest in this 1? (BTW cut that out) @TheRock #BlackGirlMagic #BlackTwitter #EndWhiteSupremacy
— BlkIzTheNewBlkDuo (@BlkDuo) October 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/MrPritchard2/status/1050049945242296320
you're not black, so no
— Only Than's (@selifator) October 11, 2018
let us not entertain the faux outrage with regard to @TheRock playing John Henry. This debate showcases how warped we are as it relates to our complexion; and the residue of hate that resides on both ends of the spectrum. Dude is black; get over it! #JohnHenryAndTheStatesmen
— Robert Morton (@Robanointed) October 11, 2018
