If a black actor can play Thomas Jefferson, can a white actor play Barack Obama?

Because the school of "Do as I say, not as I do" has ruled the day for the last 8.

My wife pointed out, if after a stupid movie some young people actually believed
Abraham Lincoln fought vampires, you just know that they will now swear up and
down that Hamilton was black. This post was edited by Crow at November 21, 2016 6:53 AM MST

Wait a minute, you mean to say that Barack Obama ISN'T white????

~

i dont see why not

When I was a kid, I revered actor Anthony Quinn* for his roles portraying various men of different nationalities and/or ethnicities than his own, such as Greek, Filipino, Arab, Chinese, Italian, Sicilian, French, Eskimo, among others.
My admiration for his body of work diminished greatly after a Native American actor gave an interview about the lack of good roles for he and other Native American men and women, especially any roles that portrayed positive images of their people.  He said that he had auditioned for the role of Geronimo, the real-life Apache leader, in a 1962 movie production of the same name.  In the interview, the Native American actor recounted his frustration at being denied the role because the producers determined that he was "not 'Indian enough'."  Additionally, no other Native American actor was 'Indian enough' either, and the role went to Caucasian actor Chuck Connors instead.  Connors wore heavy greasepaint and a wig to make him 'Indian enough', a practice that had been used by Hollywood for decades when Caucasian men and women portrayed Native Americans.
Furthermore, Connors delivered his lines in broken English, a tried-and-untrue Hollywood tactic that may or may not have been historically accurate, but had an offensive nature to it in the ears of Native Americans. In concluding the interview, the Native American actor commented on the unfairness of a fairly well-to-do Caucasian actor getting a choice role placing a historical Native American figure, while Native American actors went unemployed, and were denied the opportunity to uplift their race that the role offered.


Since then, I have been cognizant of the deeper ramifications of the ethnicity of people who portray various roles that do not match their own.  I am not saying who should or shouldn't play which role, I am only saying I think of who gets shut out when it happens.

*His real name was Antonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca, he was born in Mexico and raised in the United States (b. April 21, 1915 – d. June 3, 2001).

~

Sure, he's as white as he is black, isn't he.  I think I'm right on this.  I'm sure someone will let know if I'm not. 

Maybe Rachel Dolezal can audition for the part....;-D...

Hello Mr.

I played an escaped slave in Thoreau's Walden Pond..  I still remember my lines..  "I'm goin to Canyada"..  It wasn't a big part.

excon

Sure, but the actor will have to go to Black Acting School first...;-D...