B2 – Upper Intermediate
Whitewashing refers to casting white actors as characters who are non-white or of indeterminate race. There are a couple of movies and TV shows in Hollywood that have had their casting criticized as whitewashing. Critics of this practice claim that this is a form downplaying other races. What do you think of whitewashing?
Discussion questions:
1. Cite an example of whitewashing in movies or TV that you have watched.
2. What do you guess could be the possible problems whitewashing can cause?
3. If you were a white actor and were chosen to play a non-white character role, would you take it?