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‘Queen & Slim’ Casting Call Describing Queen’s Role As A ‘Slave’ Who ‘Would’ve Worked In The Fields’ Sparks Outrage
‘Queen & Slim’ Casting Call Describing Queen’s Role As A ‘Slave’ Who ‘Would’ve Worked In The Fields’ Sparks Outrage
Twitter dug up the old casting notice.
Queen & Slim has been in theaters for less than a week, and so far, it’s received generally positive reviews.
However, the film stirred up fresh controversy when Twitter discovered an old casting call for the role of “Queen” in the film, which was ultimately portrayed by Jodie Turner-Smith.
Under the role’s description, Carmen Cuba Casting relays they’re looking for a female between the ages of 20 and 35 who is “brown-skinned” and, theoretically, if “she were a slave she would’ve worked in the fields.”
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Yes, this casting call is real, heres a link to the expired casting call: https://t.co/e1P2MuVmiN. And heres an article written in July calling it out as problematic https://t.co/NMLfciWZN1
— Brown Skin Girl With Skin Like Pearls (@AnimeOtaku1723) November 30, 2019Queen & Slim, which also stars Daniel Kaluuya, is based on an original idea from bestselling author James Frey, which depicts a first date gone wrong after a couple defends themselves against a police officer. The pair end up going on the run after and the rest had fans on the edge of their seats. The film was directed by longtime Beyoncé collaborator Melina Matsoukas and written by Lena Waithe.
RELATED: Lena Waithe Explains Police Brutality Focus In ‘Queen & Slim’
Needless to say, the offensive description got Twitter heated.
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Color did not determine duties. Dark skinned women (and men) worked in plantation kitchens too. Chopping wood, washing cauldrons, carrying massive platters from the outdoor kitchen...Frederick Douglas was one of many “yellow devils” who worked in the fields. This a whole mess. 😭
— Lemony Britches (@AbenaGyekye) December 1, 2019 -
I mean, I’m no casting director, and I’m guessing they have a hard job finding a human to portray the imagined idea of a writers mind... but surely in 2019 there is a better way to make a call based on skin tone than slave comparisons.
— Lili. S. D. (@LilTheTrill) December 1, 2019 -
Is Queen & Slim even worth seeing? 🤔 after seeing the descriptions of the casting I’m like ehhhhh...
— ayonna🤩 (@AyonnaCrosby1) December 1, 2019 -
If they wanted to try and filter out certain physical features, they could have just written “athletic build”. 🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️
— ♐️szn (@spreadoperator_) December 1, 2019 -
People love to exploit and benefit from Black American culture, while simultaneously insulting us and contributing to our erasure. pic.twitter.com/RFKtHQOAim
— Black American Renaissance🤟🏾🇺🇸 (@barenaissance) December 1, 2019 -
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So many other adjectives could’ve been used...but no this... is...what...they...chose...
— Jennie Poo (@audaciousgirl) December 1, 2019 -
Was putting « dark skinned » too wide of a spectrum for them? Oh my goodness. 🥴
— ChrissyMoney 💸💸💸 (@ChristianJaLon) November 30, 2019This isn’t the first time a film’s casting directors fielded an actress using a racist description. Back when the NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton was looking to cast “females of all ethnicities,” Sande Alessi Casting appeared to rank potential applicants by their skin color, calling for "A GIRLS," "the hottest of the hottest" that "can be [played by] black, white, Asian, Hispanic, mid-eastern, or mixed-race" women.
Subsequently, the listing became more specific of their breakdown of women:
“B GIRLS: These are fine girls, long natural hair, really nice bodies. Small waists, nice hips. You should be light-skinned. Beyoncé is a prototype here.
C GIRLS: These are African American girls, medium to light skinned with a weave.
D GIRLS: These are African American girls. Poor, not in good shape. Medium to dark skin tone.”
Do better, Hollywood.
Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
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