Thoughts on the Hamilton non-whites notice

Let me start this post by saying I am a white person and I am certainly not writing this post to argue that white actors and singers need more representation on Broadway. I saw Hamilton a few weeks ago while agreeing with all the critical acclaim the show's been showered with this year and last, I was most moved by how Lin and his creative team have crafted a story that is so universal no one even blinks when Christopher Jackson, a very talented actor, portrays George Washington as a black man.  You immediately recognize the poignancy of what they have created....this great country was made not just by white Europeans, but by our great grandparents across all races. So when I read the news about Hamilton posting their casting notices with the phrase non whites I was a bit shocked...the very message of their show is one of racial inclusion.  I figured that the show would eventually have an Asian George Washington, a Middle Eastern, an Indian, maybe even a female George Washington. Needless to say I was a bit disappointed by this wonderful idea they had created somehow being damaged by the exclusion of whites that I'm not sure would ruin the message of this wonderful Broadway show if one day they did play the historic character....am I missing the point of the show or does this exclusion of certain races go against it's very mission statement. Interested in thoughts without raging a war here.

Miranda's story is not one of inclusion, it is the story of America then told by America now. The power is in the reclaiming of the American narrative, viz. of the birthright, by those who were excluded from being (sons and) daughters of the American Revolution. And the excluded were not white. 

HogansHero said: "Miranda's story is not one of inclusion, it is the story of America then told by America now. The power is in the reclaiming of the American narrative, viz. of the birthright, by those who were excluded from being (sons and) daughters of the American Revolution. And the excluded were not white. 

 

Yes that true.  But when you have the first composer to solely get a tony not that long ago. I hardly think that Broadway is one of inclusion. I think tix prices are far too high. I think its very middle white america looking at issues they could not possibly comrpehand (spelled  wrong on purpose) . I am personally sick of the typical disabled guy being lied to and at the end triumphing at the end.

 

WHITE PEOPLE: *write and cast themselves into billions of shows*

NOT-WHITE PEOPLE: *write and cast themselves into one show*

WHITE PEOPLE: hey you can't do that that's discrimination!!!

laughingplace said: "Yes that true.  But when you have the first composer to solely get a tony not that long ago. I hardly think that Broadway is one of inclusion. I think tix prices are far too high. I think its very middle white america looking at issues they could not possibly comrpehand (spelled  wrong on purpose) . I am personally sick of the typical disabled guy being lied to and at the end triumphing at the end."

I'd love to know what you are trying to say. But:

1. Sentence structure in English: Subject/Verb/Object

2. Sequiturs=good, Non-sequiturs=bad. 

3. "I think tix prices are too high." Now THAT is a sentence. Yay. You can do it! Now let's work on relating it to something else.

Get back to me at your leisure.

HogansHero said: "I'd love to know what you are trying to say."

Seriously, wtf is he talking about. typical disabled guy? comrpehand (spelled wrong on purpose)? first composer to solely get a tony not that long ago?

AHLiebross said: If "person of color" in a casting notice means that any minority person can audition, does that mean a Japanese-American woman can play a black character?

 

 

"

Doubtful, because in a casting call for a role that specific, it probably would say "black" rather than "person of color". With Hamilton, the goal of the show is to have people of color playing the Founding Fathers (and company) to "put them in the narrative" that all people of color, regardless of race, have historically been excluded from. Same deal for any of the casting here- I can't help but feel like you're reading too much into this in order to find a reason to let white people audition. According to the vision of the show, any person of color would be acceptable in these roles if they were the right fit acting-wise. White actors wouldn't, because it goes against the creative point of the show. Simple as that.

My first thought when I saw the posting was a half-hearted "shoot, guess I can't audition" - my imagination takes me on rides when I sing "Satisfied" so passionately in the shower on the daily. And I'm a white twenty-something. That said, I've been thinking a lot about this- while the show itself does not say anything specific about race, it is clearly an integral part of the way this story is meant to be told. This perspective is so important. No one blinks an eye at shows like The Color Purple or Hairspray that may have very specific racial casting (I haven't seen casting calls, I'm only assuming based on subject matter). Hamilton is only slightly more subtle in its deeper meaning when it comes to race, and in the show's very young age, it should continue to be represented in its original vision. 

Personally I take no issue with this.  There is an intent behind the casting.  A cultural observation is being made through the show and its casting.  And as has been mentioned, there are a white people in the cast, so if a white person really wants to be in the show, they can audition.  They may not get cast as the lead, since the creators have another idea in mind to fulfill the purpose of the show, but that's how it is.  

Personally I found myself mesmerized by Christopher Jackson as Washington.  I was so enthralled by his acting I wasn't even looking at a black actor portraying George Washington.  It was like I was hearing the words of George Washington, regardless of who was playing him.  He did such a fine job.  

In fact, I was so captivated by the story to such a degree that the backgrounds of the actors portraying these historic characters and the way in which they were telling the story (rap and hip hop) became almost invisible to me.  I almost hesitate to say this because I don't want to lose or disconnect from the purpose of the show and its casting.

It was just so well done.  Not only was a creative purpose being fulfilled by LMM, but it was done with a remarkable fluidity and huge levels of talent.  What a great show!

"I would have been a huge star if HAMILTON had only cast some white people."

This is not a conversation, because dissent (on this topic, at least) is not permitted. White people should not express an opinion; if they absolutely feel that they must, total agreement with the accepted dogma is the only acceptable expression - but it really is best for whites to abstain from comment.

As we all know, whites own the entire world. China is owned by whites; Japan and North Korea are owned by whites. All of Central and South America are owned by whites. There is no neighborhood, community, or nation on Earth that is not owned (and has not always been owned) by whites.

More ironically, whites are now in the minority everywhere in the world - as has been stated earlier, Hamilton is American history as told by America as it is today; that is, 98% non-white (if you identify Latino as non-white, but do we really need to muddy the argument thus?).

Like most topics and ideas, this one is completely black/white; there are no shades of grey, there is no ambiguity, there is no complexity - it can be reduced to a five second sound bite which essentially says "all whites are, and always have been, just the worst kind of people."

Excluding the former excluders really is the only practicable solution, because the human species cannot exist without some kind of hate.

newintown said: "This is not a conversation, because dissent (on this topic, at least) is not permitted. White people should not express an opinion; if they absolutely feel that they must, total agreement with the accepted dogma is the only acceptable expression - but it really is best for whites to abstain from comment.

As we all know, whites own the entire world. China is owned by whites; Japan and North Korea are owned by whites. All of Central and South America are owned by whites. There is no neighborhood, community, or nation on Earth that is not owned (and has not always been owned) by whites.

More ironically, whites are now in the minority everywhere in the world - as has been stated earlier, Hamilton is American history as told by America as it is today; that is, 98% non-white (if you identify Latino as non-white, but do we really need to muddy the argument thus?).

Like most topics and ideas, this one is completely black/white; there are no shades of grey, there is no ambiguity, there is no complexity - it can be reduced to a five second sound bite which essentially says "all whites are, and always have been, just the worst kind of people."

Excluding the former excluders really is the only practicable solution, because the human species cannot exist without some kind of hate.

 

"

slams head on the desk.

Did you read this thread at all. Read my post RIGHT ABOVE yours. I explained it. And white people are in the play.

This show is about America so I have no idea why you are talking about China and South America. Again part of the vision of the show is it is American history told by minorities who were often marginalized through out history and it is showing that American history belongs to all Americans not just white people who had rights back in the time it takes place. It's kinda claiming American history as their own as well even though at the time it didn't really include them. It's just a lens in which they chose to tell the story. It's not about "hating white people" Are you kidding. The show puts the founding fathers (who were really white) in a pretty positive light. George Washington is practically portrayed as a faultless god. Even Thomas Jefferson who is kind of an antagonist, your meant to find him funny and cocky. It's just telling the story through a minority lens. It's the same as The Color Purple where the race of the characters are important just more subtle in Hamilton. It's part of the reason the show works so well.

When Lin said "America now" he meant that all the people in the play are Americans but at the time it took place they would have had no rights or not even been considered Americans but they are still telling the story of the foundation of America. I really don't get how conservatives could dislike the message of the play. It's so patriotic and so many kids worship the founding fathers now because of it.

Anyway don't worry when the rights are released to high schools and community theatres you'll get to see white people in the roles since you desperately need that.

 

Updated On: 4/2/16 at 03:41 PM