Actor Wentworth Miller navigates biracial politics
CVK
Wentworth Miller just did a really interesting interview with EURWeb.com. Miller will soon be starring in the Fox series “Prison Break” and has recently played Mariah Carey’s love interest in her music videos, but most of us first saw him as the young Anthony Hopkins in the film “The Human Stain.” In that film, Miller played a biracial young man who chose to pass as white.
Miller is himself biracial, and talks very openly and honestly in this article about the role his identity has played in his career:
Miller’s fair skin affords him the opportunity to seek characters written for both African American and white actors, however, the burgeoning star follows his own guidelines when it comes to casting calls.
“I tell my representatives that you can send me out on any ethnicity roles, or roles that were written for Caucasians if race is not an issue in the movie,” he explains. “I think the race of the actors starts to matter if race matters in the movie. If you want to do an all-Eskimo production of ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ I mean God bless you, I can’t wait to see it. But if it’s an all-Eskimo production of ‘Gone with the Wind,’ that’s obviously a little more problematic”…
“I have had the experience of being caught between two different communities,” he says. “You are neither one thing nor the other, nor can you be accepted fully by either community, which means you’re kind of a lone ranger – which has its advantages. I won’t pretend that I haven’t escaped the business end of the race stick in large part. I’ve never been pulled over for driving in the wrong neighborhood at the wrong time of night. I’ve never had to pay for a meal before I’ve eaten it. But at the same time, racial community – I think in its best sense – provides identity and security and support. And I sometimes think if I ran into trouble, as my character eventually did in “The Human Stain,” who would come to my aid? The answer may be no one. As in the movie, no one comes to his support. Not his black friends and not his white friends.”
delores wrote:
being of colour has never being a problem i could go any where i wanted to go but in 1960 was the turning point in many people of colour where moved and had to live in many run down buildings and in back yards of Indians property it is something that my children and grandchildren must never go through ever again We the middle aged people of colour never had the opportunaties that the young people of colour have all i say is go for it with two hands may we see a person of colour at head of goverment
Posted 11 Jul 2005 at 12:09 am ¶
Anonymous wrote:
one thing I’d add is that Silky Silk in the human stain does not pass as ‘white’. He becomes the ‘Jewish’ Coleman Silk, ie. avoiding a black identity but also distancing himself from a white American identity.
Posted 15 Jul 2005 at 4:16 am ¶
CVK wrote:
Excellent point, anonymous! I forgot about that.
Posted 15 Jul 2005 at 10:02 am ¶
Hatshepsut wrote:
But don’t you think Coleman “passed” as Jewish because clearly if someone he knew as intimately as Steena thought he was Jewish, then he could not pass for any “whiter” race (i.e. German, Swedish, or British)?
Posted 31 Jul 2005 at 6:03 pm ¶
Lyn lee wrote:
Give this actor credit for even coming out with the truth of his racial identity. That’s a lot more that can be said for Vin Diesel(Mark Vincent). Wentworth is a lot more attractive and classy in my honest opinion and it looks like his career is taking off.
Posted 04 Aug 2005 at 5:02 pm ¶
Jean wrote:
Vin Diesel has the right to do as he wishes. He doesn’t have to “represent” for anyone. Isn’t this what Mixed Media Watch is all about? Of course every one has a right to their own opinion. I respect that.
Posted 17 Aug 2005 at 4:56 pm ¶
SonicEmpire wrote:
Obviously all of you missed the fact that Coleman Silk in the movie was part Jewish and part Black for the film. His real father was out of the picture, because he had passed away. He was not pretending to be Jewish his faith was Jewish. He was only hiding the fact that he was half Black.
Posted 18 Aug 2005 at 3:44 pm ¶
SonicEmpire wrote:
Obviously many people here missed the fact that his character was not pretending to be Jewish, his real father was Jewish for the film and his mother was Black. He was only denying the Black side.
Posted 18 Aug 2005 at 3:49 pm ¶
bee wrote:
In the film The Human Stain, both of Coleman Silk’s parents were black. Their children ranged in skin tone from light-skinned black to pinky-bright. The character Coleman Silk denied his heritage and his family in passing as Jewish(an acceptable ethnicity). While he sought his own path in the world, unencumbered by racial ties, what was the cost?
Posted 19 Aug 2005 at 9:57 am ¶
Darlene wrote:
Thank you, bee, for clarifying that both of Coleman’s parents were black (the same as most people who passed for white in the past). The Jewish man was his boxing coach. I don’t know if the story is different in the book version.
Posted 21 Aug 2005 at 11:57 am ¶
Missy wrote:
Coleman is all black. His boxing coach wasn’t jewish. The coach suggested that coleman “pass” for Jewish. Guys pay attention to the movie more!lol
Posted 24 Aug 2005 at 7:50 pm ¶
mark wrote:
I think you all made valid points. I feel that the true issue is that all though we have come a long way in regard race issues, we still have quite a ways to go before we are all treated as equals irregardless of race or skintone.
Posted 25 Aug 2005 at 1:36 am ¶
Lyn Lee wrote:
He(Miller) is fortunate to have such a rich heritage but to be allowed to play not only mainstream roles, but leading man roles because he is so physically attractive and talented.
He is truly Ironic.
Posted 29 Aug 2005 at 10:27 pm ¶
julijana, dajana miller wrote:
hi
you are sexy boy. you are hot..
DÙ GEILE SAU!!
Germany is back
wir lieben dich, wir wollen ein kind von dir!!!
HOT HOT HOT wenworth miller…
Posted 03 Sep 2005 at 5:04 pm ¶
Lisa wrote:
I’ve not seen the movie and after reading what it’s about, I don’t intend to now. I’ve always hated shows that dealt with race issues. I really don’t care if I’m accepted by black or white people as long as they don’t try anything out of the way.
Posted 07 Sep 2005 at 1:44 am ¶
Anonymous wrote:
The reason why Wentworth’s character in The Human Stain was disowned by his Black friends/family because he disowned THEM via passing for white, so of course they would be offended and turn their back on him.
Posted 08 Sep 2005 at 1:59 pm ¶
pooja wrote:
OMG… he is FYNE!!! black or white i want him to be my baby daddy!
i hope he likes indian girls. lolz!
Posted 13 Sep 2005 at 7:04 pm ¶
L.Re wrote:
The movie is just that a movie , intended to entertain not to be confused with real life.
Posted 14 Sep 2005 at 2:30 pm ¶
Aasiyah wrote:
Wentworth Miller is an amazing actor. and he’s so damn hot! I want him for myself…..he’s comments about race and ethnicity are important as they show that he is being genuinely honest about his experiences with two different racial cultures. He is bound for success and great things. I look forward to hearing more about him and seeing him at his best creative work….go wentworth….I love you!…I wish i could write him a letter. anyone know his fan mail address? sertilwise@hotmail.com
Posted 18 Sep 2005 at 12:34 am ¶
madmax wrote:
I’m glad that wentworth is honest , but guess what I liked him before I knew that he was part black. I knew that Vin Diesel was mixed I don’t care I like him too.By the way one fo Vins first interviews was in Vibe magazine he was very honest about his racial indenity. I guess it depends on who is doing the interview that makes it seem as if the actors are hiding their racial indenity. I saw Vin interviewed on the today show by Katie and her only focus was that he was part black she asked him two questions about his current movie. I think that people are so affraid of multiculture because then they can’t behave like jackasses if someone that they may offend is present. Well to all of the biracial actors this black woman hopes that you make it not everyone is closed minded.
Posted 22 Sep 2005 at 10:38 pm ¶
sarah wrote:
wentworth is an awesome actor!!! go went worth miller !! im your # 1 fan …. does anyone know his fan mail address? if so please e mail me the address at lebanese_sweet@hotmail.com thanx…. omg wentworth is so hot ! thats cool how he is a LEBANESE DECENT!! WELL HIS MOTHER IS SYRIAN AND LEBANESE, FRENCH, ALSO DUTCH!!! SUCH A MIX !!! wentworth is so cute !!! he is so good at acting :)
Posted 28 Sep 2005 at 5:13 pm ¶
Teenieone wrote:
think people who don’t identify are doom to have no history, and are doom to not know themselves they are politician trying to please the voters. Would he still feel the same way ie “I tell my representatives that you can send me out on any ethnicity roles, or roles that were written for Caucasians if race is not an issue in the movie,” if he were just a little darker. what about all the mixed people who can’t pass like Hallie berrBarrynny Cravitz, Eartha Kit, Tymak (Bruce Leroy from the last dragon), and alicAlicias. I think it is easier for Mr. Miller to say that I am both because in all actuality if he didn’t open his month no one would have known or cared. It’s cool to be black right now. I know some poeppeople gonna hate me for saying that, but it is the true. Just look at Mariah Carey. when she first came out we thought she was a white girl who could sing or spanSpanish one knew she was half black and half white till her drug addict sister spilled the beans. In the mid 90’s when the black community started to domedominate music world she all of a sudden started hanging out with the rappers and the soul sistas. You know what I would admire ? a Mixed person who is darker then say Will Smith and still say he is both. You know what it wont happen because when you are as light as Wentworth Miller you have a choice, and oh then it’s could to say I’m both I feel the black people’s pain I can’t be prejudice because I’m both. Give me a break.
Posted 21 Nov 2005 at 7:50 pm ¶
Anonymous wrote:
TeenieOne,
It is hypocritical and narrow to propose that a multi-racial person with predominately black features is somehow heroic to define herself as being of mixed races, but when someone falls on the fairer end of the spectrum it’s a farce to acknowledge her genetics—an appeal to pop culture and politics. The bitter and hostile nature of your post clearly indicates that the lighter complected person is not without superficial prejudgment.
Within the body of your post, YOU have listed the names of several of the seemingly mythical darker skinned multi-racial person. Halle Berry has a mixture of roles defined by race and those not—“Introducing Dorothy Dandridge,” “Gothika,” “X-men,” and “Swordfish.” Lenny Kravitz has successful career under the rock genre, now dominated by white males. Given the repetitive selection of “Fallen” by “American Idol” talent, Alicia Keys has found tremendous cross-cultural fame. By following their examples, it seems quite plausible that Mr. Miller would “tell [his] representatives that [he] can send [him] out on any ethnicity roles, or roles that were written for Caucasians if race is not an issue in the movie” and expect some nominal success. Such an attitude is the only way to address the disparity of roles in Hollywood.
Perhaps the larger argument proposed by Mr. Miller and “The Human Stain” is whether there is any merit to being just a “good person” vs. being a “good black person.” And which one has the most semblance to equality?
Posted 23 Nov 2005 at 2:35 pm ¶
Veelady wrote:
You are handsome and talented……….The only thing that really matters is that you are comfortable in your own skin. You have beautiful eyes man.
I see you as a man - Not a color
I Love your role in Prison Break and can’t wait for it to start up again.
Posted 06 Dec 2005 at 1:04 pm ¶
Anon wrote:
Having lived in South Africa my whole life and gone through apartheid , I can understand why some biracial people find it difficult to be accepted into either community. One of my best friends is biracial, and she is tremendously proud of her heritage.
I hope that Wentworth Miller is successful in his carreer. He is gorgeous and a very talented actor.
Posted 10 Dec 2005 at 11:32 am ¶
allheavens wrote:
It is 2006 and this debate is still raging. Being black and female growing up in America and in the South during the 1950s and 60s was not easy. I am sometimes surprised by my lack of bitterness.
But having to live with the fact that race is still one of the top three issues in America makes me profoundly sad and reading TeenieOne’s post makes me even sadder. The issue of “light skin” versus ”dark skin” within our community is something I have always found distasteful.
TeenieOne, do you propose that if Mr. Miller does not fully embrace his blackness and only his blackness that he is doomed to have no heritage, no community, and no human history. That you would find it preferable for Wentworth to “pass” and say nothing of his multi-racial background and in doing so deny his heritage and even worse his father. Do you not think that even if he is not instantly recognizable as a person of color that racial hatred does not touch his life? That comments made by people thinking they are in “safe” company do not cut as deep.
What bothers you most? The fact that he is light enough to move through society without having to experience the day-to-day humiliations people of color suffer or the fact that you as a “person of color” cannot escape having that daily toll exacted. I am here to state that your comments smack of bitterness.
The fact remains that Mr. Miller is not darker and wishing will not make it so. And for all we as people of color have to endure (and for that matter as human beings), we should embrace one another (light, dark, bi-racial, multi-racial) and find joy in each and every success.
Posted 04 Jan 2006 at 12:32 pm ¶
gail wrote:
I want to commend Wentworth Miller for bringing a debate to the forfront
again. I was always taught you look at the heart & soul of a person-not
the color. It is unfortunate that many people have to say “dark skin-white
skin”-to me it should not be a debate anymore. We all have to come
together-I am hopeful we will one day. God bless!
Posted 14 Jan 2006 at 11:54 pm ¶
some girl wrote:
I think Wentworth Miller seems to have a very healthy opinion about his racial identity. Many people focus to much on the “racial and ethnic” part of their backgrounds. Just think about the people who contributed to that part of you. No matter what anybody ever says, those -people- loved enough to bring you to this world. Their history is a part of making you special (& not to make you feel bad). And if anybody ever treats you badly elevate yourself and learn from it.
As stated above by Wentworth Miller some roles just have a higher need to be “type-casted”. If you are involved in movies that’s mainly a production issue. Doing for example an eskimo edition of ‘Gone with the Wind’ would present great production difficulty - as would, to demonstrate, an all-”white” re-make of a blaxploitation movie. That’s however just one part of the world called the movie industry.
Posted 22 Jan 2006 at 4:06 pm ¶
Anonymous wrote:
does anyone know an address to send wentworth fan mail?
Posted 14 Feb 2006 at 7:19 pm ¶
yarnae wrote:
wentworth miller is fortunate, he is living in 2005 and able to work and be open about ethnicity. Freddie Washington was more fair in complexion, hair was straighter, and looked exactly like a white woman. Unlike Wentworths character when she played at passing for White in Imitation of life, she was made to wear make-up the darken her skin, so as to make her more identified for southern audiences as black.
Wentworth has choices because of her bravery.
Posted 16 Feb 2006 at 1:48 pm ¶
yarnae wrote:
great love it your a genius
Posted 16 Feb 2006 at 6:17 pm ¶
Yasmin wrote:
Wentworth is a hottie of note, and good at playing pretend (acting)
will propose if I ever meet him.
Love Yasmin
Harare
Zimbabwe
Posted 24 Feb 2006 at 10:35 am ¶
samsam wrote:
wentworthmiller
OMG if he is so proud of his race he needs to get married to a black sister. so the children can atleast have a chance of being black. if he dose not NOT proud of being black.
i hate the fact that people like tarence howard constaintly make comments about being so proud of being black, when they are married to a white women. its like saying i love ma people but they are not good enough for me.
Posted 09 Mar 2006 at 3:26 am ¶
jessy wrote:
i think wentworth is so hot and sexy i love all the acting he does and i would love to meet up with him to have a drink i am only 7 years younger than him and we met i am positive that he would like me i know he would love you wentworth love ya :):):):):):):):):):)xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Posted 30 Jun 2006 at 9:22 am ¶
jessy wrote:
i think wentworth is amazing and who ever thinks hes not just do not have a good taste then do they you are all idiots who ever thinks wentworth is not faf and who ever is mum his she should be proud. And hu eva tht sam sam is, is so not rite let wentworth think what he wants to think love ya wentworth xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Posted 30 Jun 2006 at 9:31 am ¶