This week’s controversial topic: Racism in Film
The Netflix series Bridgerton, adapted from the novels by Julia Quinn, has garnered many fans and enthusiasts. One of the topics that the TV series is praised for is being racially inclusive by casting people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds in the leading roles. For example, who can forget Rege-Jean Page as the handsome duke in season 1, or Simone Ashley as the quick-witted future Lady Bridgerton in season 2? Both actors were exceptional. In addition, the society in the high-class ton of London is highly diverse. The ballroom dance floors are full of interracial couples. The Queen of England herself, Queen Charlotte, who presides over the picking of the season’s Diamond, is Black. Is there a problem with this casting?
The question that came to me in recent discussion with white family and friends is: How realistic is this beautiful portrait of racial harmony that is portrayed on Bridgerton? One member of my family has recently read the series of Bridgerton books, in which the characters are mainly white-skinned and blue-eyed. She felt that the TV show was not historically accurate, because the Regency period high-society in London was dominated by white aristocrats. Her argument was that Netflix should not cast so many differing ethnicities in the lead roles because that is not what the upper-classes looked like historically, and it is not aligned with the book series. In addition, another white friend of my family member agreed with her, and felt that Netflix was making a serious misstep.
So, I gave this topic some thought. My response to my family member and her friend is this: Donald Trump is spreading hate and white supremacy like a virus in our country, and I will support whole-heartedly any television show that offers more film representation to people of color. If Bridgerton is unrealistic than we should be striving to make it more realistic. I find it incredible that June 19, 1865 occurred 160 years ago this spring, and people of color are still held back in American society as if slavery never ended. Why is it such a big deal when a Black, Asian, or Latinx actor wins an award such as an Oscar or an Emmy? The answer is, because the BIPOC community is not given leading roles in film, and little boys and girls of color do not see themselves represented on screen. All of this is to say, that I strongly disagree with criticizing a film, whether TV or movie, that allows the leading roles to be given to people from diverse backgrounds. Instead, we should be embracing the changes and striving to make our messed-up American society more welcoming to the advancement of people of color.
As a white person, myself, I strive to be keenly aware of my own racial prejudices. For example, I originally did not understand the immense backlash when Emma Stone won the Oscar for Best Actress at the 2024 Academy Awards, and Lily Gladstone, who was nominated for her performance in Killers of the Flower Moon, did not win. My first thought: What is the big deal? Wow, can you say, “Out of touch with reality?!” I remember an intense talk with my dad about this topic after the Oscars ceremony. The problem is not that Emma Stone is a bad actress, the problem is that white women almost always win that award. Lily Gladstone was the first Native American to be nominated in the Best Actress category. Furthermore, two women, Halle Berry and Michelle Yeoh, are the only women of color to win a Best Actress Academy Award. The Oscars have been around for 95 years, and have been dominated by white winners. I realized that Lily Gladstone’s Oscar loss had much bigger implications about racism in film.
Movies and television have not escaped the white supremacy of American culture. And that fact is wrong. Terribly wrong. After the 2nd Presidential election win of Donald Trump, I am fearing where our country is headed. Trump is all about hatred of anyone different from himself. I refuse to stand idly by and let him fill our nation with his violent racism. If film is one place where we can make a difference for the BIPOC community and act against racist beliefs, then that is a place to start. Go watch Bridgerton and support the way that society should be. Let’s make it a reality.
The Ladybug 