Finding Hatred in a Place of Community
A reminder to keep your eyes open in a place where white privilege is real
This week has been filled with posts on Twitter about the recent racial riots and killing of George Floyd.
Police brutality, yet again, results in the murders of hundreds of unarmed and innocent Black people. Finally, the world is saying, “This needs to stop.”
As a student of the theater, something caught my eye this week. One of my favorite stars, Lea Michele, who played Rachel Berry on Glee, was called out for being racist on set by her fellow actors of color.
I was taken aback because I was younger at the time I watched the show. And when you’re young, you assume that everyone you like is a good person.
But what did 13-year-old me know about racism?
Nothing.
This is an actress so many others grew up watching and idolizing. She was featured in Broadway musicals, TV concerts, movies and was the lead of the many seasons Glee.
And Lea Michele has, in fact, said racist comments for a long time that have gone unnoticed by us white people, but which have affected people of color deeply and harshly.
At least five of her coworkers came out on Twitter when Lea posted a picture saying that she supported Black Lives Matter.
I cannot continue to support Michele, and I feel even more upset that her actions were brushed under the rug for so long.
I will never know what it is like to be a Black actress or Black in general. I cannot imagine how frustrating it must be to work with someone who treats you as lesser.
With age and perspective, I am finally seeing the prominence of the situation in the theater community. Actors of color — especially women of color — are paid less, passed over or hired to fulfill certain Black stereotypes on TV.
To then deal with racists diminishing the quality of your work because of your skin color is repugnant.
