Please explain why this double standard is pervasive on the left

[Deleted User 1616]

So you agree that was unfair.
So why isn’t it when it’s the other way around? Two wrongs don’t make a right, you know? Racism goes both ways.
If it was racist and unfair for white actors to take ethnic roles, then it’s racist and unfair for black actors to take roles of characters that should be white.
Otherwise we’re not talking about equality, we’re talking about revenge.

And really, what you said was that you don’t give a damn, but it sounds to me like you gave a damn when the situation was reversed. And if these are imaginary persons anyway, why would you care if they’re portrayed by white actors, even if it’s historically inaccurate, right? I mean, we now shouldn’t care that they’re portrayed by black actors, even if historically inaccurate, so why care if it goes the other way?

No I didn't miss the point. Hollywood has had white actors play ethnic parts for 80 some years. Jewish guys and white guys played indians in all those westerns. Audrey Hepburn played a chinese woman in Dragon Seed. It's been going on forever. It's about time black actors start getting screen time.

Is "being white" central to the plot or character of King Arthur?

yes, if the viewer wants to be transported to that particular place and time, its not believable. You could make a modern day adaptation, which many have done with Shakespeare's works (10 things I hate about you is taming of the shrewd) then its less vital, set in a fictional modern multi ethnic place. it is really tiresome that white people are constantly beaten upside the head for the "crime" of being born white and supposedly privileged and told we can't own a Mexican restaurant, cant wear hoop earrings, can't have dreads, can't wear kimono, but other cultures can partake in our culture whenever they want. it's BS and I am sick of it.

However, if the standard for all other cultures/races is that people of a different ethnicity don't have the right to borrow from other's ethnic cultures, it should be be applied consistently.

[jessilin0113]

So you agree that was unfair.
So why isn’t it when it’s the other way around? Two wrongs don’t make a right, you know? Racism goes both ways.
If it was racist and unfair for white actors to take ethnic roles, then it’s racist and unfair for black actors to take roles of characters that should be white.
Otherwise we’re not talking about equality, we’re talking about revenge.

And really, what you said was that you don’t give a damn, but it sounds to me like you gave a damn when the situation was reversed. And if these are imaginary persons anyway, why would you care if they’re portrayed by white actors, even if it’s historically inaccurate, right? I mean, we now shouldn’t care that they’re portrayed by black actors, even if historically inaccurate, so why care if it goes the other way?

Is "being white" central to the plot or character of King Arthur?

yes, if the viewer wants to be transported to that particular place and time, its not believable. You could make a modern day adaptation, which many have done with Shakespeare's works (10 things I hate about you is taming of the shrewd) then its less vital, set in a fictional modern multi ethnic place. it is really tiresome that white people are constantly beaten upside the head for the "crime" of being born white and supposedly privileged and told we can't own a Mexican restaurant, cant wear hoop earrings, can't have dreads, can't wear kimono, but other cultures can partake in our culture whenever they want. it's BS and I am sick of it.

However, if the standard for all other cultures/races is that people of a different ethnicity don't have the right to borrow from other's ethnic cultures, it should be be applied consistently.

That's silly. "White" isn't a culture, and king Arthur is British culture, which isn't exclusively white.

[SouthernIslander]

King Arthur to be played by a black actor in Netflix show "Cursed"

He is Black and Anglo-Indian.

[Frau Holle]

Is "being white" central to the plot or character of King Arthur?

yes, if the viewer wants to be transported to that particular place and time, its not believable. You could make a modern day adaptation, which many have done with Shakespeare's works (10 things I hate about you is taming of the shrewd) then its less vital, set in a fictional modern multi ethnic place. it is really tiresome that white people are constantly beaten upside the head for the "crime" of being born white and supposedly privileged and told we can't own a Mexican restaurant, cant wear hoop earrings, can't have dreads, can't wear kimono, but other cultures can partake in our culture whenever they want. it's BS and I am sick of it.

However, if the standard for all other cultures/races is that people of a different ethnicity don't have the right to borrow from other's ethnic cultures, it should be be applied consistently.

That's silly. "White" isn't a culture, and king Arthur is British culture, which isn't exclusively white.

King Arthur is extremely important to British and Celtic, and Druid culture... yes, they were white.

[Frau Holle]

So you agree that was unfair.
So why isn’t it when it’s the other way around? Two wrongs don’t make a right, you know? Racism goes both ways.
If it was racist and unfair for white actors to take ethnic roles, then it’s racist and unfair for black actors to take roles of characters that should be white.
Otherwise we’re not talking about equality, we’re talking about revenge.

And really, what you said was that you don’t give a damn, but it sounds to me like you gave a damn when the situation was reversed. And if these are imaginary persons anyway, why would you care if they’re portrayed by white actors, even if it’s historically inaccurate, right? I mean, we now shouldn’t care that they’re portrayed by black actors, even if historically inaccurate, so why care if it goes the other way?

No I didn't miss the point. Hollywood has had white actors play ethnic parts for 80 some years. Jewish guys and white guys played indians in all those westerns. Audrey Hepburn played a chinese woman in Dragon Seed. It's been going on forever. It's about time black actors start getting screen time.

Is "being white" central to the plot or character of King Arthur?

Lol yes... as much as being black is central to someone playing Nelson Mandela.


King Arthur is EXTREMELY important to certain cultures that the King Arthur Stories come from.

Trying to overwrite Celtic and Druid culture is just as vicious and cruel as trying to write over any other culture.

People talk about how it’s important to showcase Black History and Historical context because their culture was so horribly targeted, but so were Celtics and Druids. We were murdered, tortured, punished when attempting to preserve anything ... immediate death if you are even discovered.

King Arthur revered in both worlds of the Pagan and Christian, and many people still wait for his return just as they wait for Jesus’ return.

[Frau Holle]

It’s not even skin color that matters, I was so angry when that Thor movie by Marvel came out and they had Sif as a brunette and Thor as a blonde.

To people who don’t care at all about Norse religion it doesn’t matter at all. It’s just hair. But to the people who actually follow the Norse religion those hair colors were of extreme importance and tie into what makes them gods for us.

Sif doesn’t just have blonde hair, she has gold hair that was spun for her by the Sons of Ivaldi to replace the hair that Loki had cut from her, and that hair gives her power. And then THEY CUT HER HAIR! . How on earth they thought it was ok to depict Sif with hair around her shoulders is just downright offensive, and they probably don’t even know that.


It’s just ridiculous to me to make a movie about someone else’s religion and not even read up about it.

[jessilin0113]

So you agree that was unfair.
So why isn’t it when it’s the other way around? Two wrongs don’t make a right, you know? Racism goes both ways.
If it was racist and unfair for white actors to take ethnic roles, then it’s racist and unfair for black actors to take roles of characters that should be white.
Otherwise we’re not talking about equality, we’re talking about revenge.

And really, what you said was that you don’t give a damn, but it sounds to me like you gave a damn when the situation was reversed. And if these are imaginary persons anyway, why would you care if they’re portrayed by white actors, even if it’s historically inaccurate, right? I mean, we now shouldn’t care that they’re portrayed by black actors, even if historically inaccurate, so why care if it goes the other way?

Is "being white" central to the plot or character of King Arthur?

Lol yes... as much as being black is central to someone playing Nelson Mandela.


King Arthur is EXTREMELY important to certain cultures that the King Arthur Stories come from.

Trying to overwrite Celtic and Druid culture is just as vicious and cruel as trying to write over any other culture.

People talk about how it’s important to showcase Black History and Historical context because their culture was so horribly targeted, but so were Celtics and Druids. We were murdered, tortured, punished when attempting to preserve anything ... immediate death if you are even discovered.

King Arthur revered in both worlds of the Pagan and Christian, and many people still wait for his return just as they wait for Jesus’ return.

That's also silly. Nelson Mandela's race is relevant because his life's work was impacted by apartheid which was only a thing because of race. King arthur wasn't king because a prophecy said "a white man will pull a sword from a stone". There is nothing about the King Arthur saga that makes whiteness an important aspect of the story other than it was written by white people. There were plenty of people of color in druidic Britain.

[Frau Holle]

Is "being white" central to the plot or character of King Arthur?

Lol yes... as much as being black is central to someone playing Nelson Mandela.


King Arthur is EXTREMELY important to certain cultures that the King Arthur Stories come from.

Trying to overwrite Celtic and Druid culture is just as vicious and cruel as trying to write over any other culture.

People talk about how it’s important to showcase Black History and Historical context because their culture was so horribly targeted, but so were Celtics and Druids. We were murdered, tortured, punished when attempting to preserve anything ... immediate death if you are even discovered.

King Arthur revered in both worlds of the Pagan and Christian, and many people still wait for his return just as they wait for Jesus’ return.

That's also silly. Nelson Mandela's race is relevant because his life's work was impacted by apartheid which was only a thing because of race. King arthur wasn't king because a prophecy said "a white man will pull a sword from a stone". There is nothing about the King Arthur saga that makes whiteness an important aspect of the story other than it was written by white people. There were plenty of people of color in druidic Britain.

It does matter because Arthur is not where the story begins. His mother’s ancestry matters, His Fathers ancestry matters , his exact place of inception matters, his Grandfather matters and ALL of their roles within British/ Welsh Monarchy matter.

It’s very hard to have Uther Pendragon ( Arthur’s Father) come from anywhere other than Welsh Land. His entire lineage and royal relatives are also part of the story.

It would be very hard to have Igraine ( his mother ) Be anything other than a Celtic Briton, and yes, that union of Welsh and Britain REALLY matter to all of their history.

[jessilin0113]

Lol yes... as much as being black is central to someone playing Nelson Mandela.


King Arthur is EXTREMELY important to certain cultures that the King Arthur Stories come from.

Trying to overwrite Celtic and Druid culture is just as vicious and cruel as trying to write over any other culture.

People talk about how it’s important to showcase Black History and Historical context because their culture was so horribly targeted, but so were Celtics and Druids. We were murdered, tortured, punished when attempting to preserve anything ... immediate death if you are even discovered.

King Arthur revered in both worlds of the Pagan and Christian, and many people still wait for his return just as they wait for Jesus’ return.

That's also silly. Nelson Mandela's race is relevant because his life's work was impacted by apartheid which was only a thing because of race. King arthur wasn't king because a prophecy said "a white man will pull a sword from a stone". There is nothing about the King Arthur saga that makes whiteness an important aspect of the story other than it was written by white people. There were plenty of people of color in druidic Britain.

It does matter because Arthur is not where the story begins. His mother’s ancestry matters, His Fathers ancestry matters , his exact place of inception matters, his Grandfather matters and ALL of their roles within British/ Welsh Monarchy matter.

It’s very hard to have Uther Pendragon ( Arthur’s Father) come from anywhere other than Welsh Land. His entire lineage and royal relatives are also part of the story.

It would be very hard to have Igraine ( his mother ) Be anything other than a Celtic Briton, and yes, that union of Welsh and Britain REALLY matter to all of their history.

Fine, if you were making a biographical movie about King Arthur than that is relevant. If you are doing a fun reimagining of a mythical character, like in the OP, it matters less. Telling that people are mad that he's not white and not that he's apparently some sort of mercenary instead of royalty, if, you know, history is important and all.

[Frau Holle]

That's also silly. Nelson Mandela's race is relevant because his life's work was impacted by apartheid which was only a thing because of race. King arthur wasn't king because a prophecy said "a white man will pull a sword from a stone". There is nothing about the King Arthur saga that makes whiteness an important aspect of the story other than it was written by white people. There were plenty of people of color in druidic Britain.

It does matter because Arthur is not where the story begins. His mother’s ancestry matters, His Fathers ancestry matters , his exact place of inception matters, his Grandfather matters and ALL of their roles within British/ Welsh Monarchy matter.

It’s very hard to have Uther Pendragon ( Arthur’s Father) come from anywhere other than Welsh Land. His entire lineage and royal relatives are also part of the story.

It would be very hard to have Igraine ( his mother ) Be anything other than a Celtic Briton, and yes, that union of Welsh and Britain REALLY matter to all of their history.

Fine, if you were making a biographical movie about King Arthur than that is relevant. If you are doing a fun reimagining of a mythical character, like in the OP, it matters less. Telling that people are mad that he's not white and not that he's apparently some sort of mercenary instead of royalty, if, you know, history is important and all.

And therein lies the problem, doesn’t it?

It’s either ok to take the cultural stories of an area and turn them into frivolous entertainment, and cast anyone at all to play them because it doesn’t matter at that point, or it is not ok to do that.

If someone decides that it’s horrible to do to every group except one that it’s ok to do to, that’s a big problem.