[SMFH] Gods Of Egypt WhiteWashing A Constant Cultural Smudging Of People Of Colour Lionsgate RESPONDS:

Whitewashing, race bending, cultural smudging (Azealia Banks) many names…

Why does Hollywood consistently disrespect people of colour? The new movie release “Gods Of Egypt” looks like a clear depiction of; “hey we are white and we are awesome and we want the world to see us as heroes and not the actual people who this story is about.” That’s what it looks like, that’s what it is! But for those of you who believe Egyptians are not people of colour, let me help you.

Egypt, is in Afrika. Afrika is not a country. Afrika is a continent. Afrika is the 2nd largest continent in the world. Afrikans are people of colour who’s strong skin tones are biologically linked to the power of the sun that hits Afrika. People of colour, Brown people, are blessed with melanin, which enjoys the sun and allows us to be light brown in one moment, and dark brown after hours in the sun. People of colour range from very light brown to very dark brown. Egypt is in Afrika, which means the people in Egypt especially Ancient Egypt, which this movie is based on, are brown people, not white, not european.

If the latter isn’t enough, which is all researchable if you care, check out this amazing depiction drawn by people of Egypt’s past depicting themselves.Yes, that’s just one image, one of many you can google or visit any museum that has information on Egyptians and you’ll find the same. So, why can’t seemingly intelligent Hollywood creators get this? Why is God’s of Egypt a movie starring Scottish Gerad Butler, and Danish Nikolaj Coster-Waldau? What has Hollywood been trying to convince the world of since the beginning of time?? white is right? Don’t act like you don’t know…there’s always an agenda.

Fans, and even celebrities all weighed in on this terrible consistent casting of white people in roles that belong to people of colour. Bette Midler even weight in;

In an effort to calm the storm, Lionsgate and some other guy involved released these terrible statements FORBES;

Alex Proyas: “The process of casting a movie has many complicated variables, but it is clear that our casting choices should have been more diverse. I sincerely apologize to those who are offended by the decisions we made.”

Lionsgate: ”We recognize that it is our responsibility to help ensure that casting decisions reflect the diversity and culture of the time periods portrayed. In this instance we failed to live up to our own standards of sensitivity and diversity, for which we sincerely apologize. Lionsgate is deeply committed to making films that reflect the diversity of our audiences. We have, can and will continue to do better.…

Considering this is not the first time people have complained, these responses hold no water! You knew what you were doing before hand, anyone can research Egypt and know before making a film that they were people of colour, to release a statement apologizing is ridiculous because you knew what you were doing. Apologizing for offending someone is as bad as saying I’m sorry you felt that way…don’t be “sorry” be accurate!

Furthermore, it’s not exactly the creators that must change but the white people in Hollywood, mostly men, giving out budgets to companies to make films, even in the huge controversy with the white casted movie “Exodus” which was an epic fail considering people of colour weren’t even in the movie, the director Ridley Scott had a point. A point that needs to change in Hollywood…and fast. He basically stated casting white people gets you bigger budgets and international recognition. Considering people of colour in Hollywood say the same things like Gina Bythewood (Love and Basketball, Beyond The Lights) who fought for her lead actress to star in “Beyond The Lights” when studios wanted a white lead actress. This is what needs to change, the world will accept a person of colour in the lead, because its about the movie, not the person on the cover that makes it appealing, at least not in 2015. The world isn’t so stupid that if they see a white man or woman on the cover they’ll associate it with goodness….or would they?

I digress…im starting to get pissed writing about it….