I agree that it is racist for people and casting directors to shove mixed people into one box — but you have to start somewhere. She could write and direct her own film like the woman (Alison something..) that wrote “Mixing Nia”.

In the 1930s, the actress Fredi Washington, a lightskinned, green-eyed black woman, did not “read black” on camera. She had her one great role in the original “Imitation of Life” as Pecola, and when her film career waned, she worked tirelessly with civil rights organizations to make things better.

Brook Lee has a different battle. She can get a role at least. Perhaps she can play some roles outside of her actual heritage to gain footing (ala J. Lopez playing Italian, Jessica Alba playing a black/white mix when she is not).

Once she gains footing (i.e. makes some money) she can write and/or direct her own work.

Calm Down: “secret barbecues… LOL!!!”
– Was that offensive, because that was not my intent.

Nina: Okay, I’ll take that. I’ll just point out that many black people (like myself) always find it amusing when people (including other black people) make certain statements about “the black community” and “what black people think” as if every single black person attended a meeting and decided on it. You know, the same meeting where we pick our official Black Leader (LOL). It’s an old joke. I don’t, and I don’t think Merq thinks that you were purposely being offensive.

“secret barbecues… LOL!!!”
– Was that offensive, because that was not my intent.

Nina: I’m too exhausted to go into anyting else (it’s 2:30 am) but I will say that when I stated that Brook doesn’t look Asian to me, I meant in the way most Americans read “Asian”. And casting directors, for better and (mostly) worse, read “Asian” as solely Chinese, Korean, etc.

I know there are many different “Asian” looks but, looking right at her, she didn’t appear to have one of the many different “Asian” looks to my eyes.

I keep missing the meetings too! I don’t get memos or anything!!

I mean, are we holding secret barbecues every other weekend or something? Where! Shoot, I like barbecue! LOL!!!

HAHAH

“She never said anything about Asians ONLY playing Asians (Lucy L).”
Nina: “If you read the article, she specifically said that she turns down roles if it is not an Asian role.”

–I read the article, Nina. But if you read my comment, I was addressing someone’s assertion that Brook criticized LUCY LIU for not taking Asian roles.

“Obviously Halle B is not just black, but many… identify Halle as black.”
Nina: “No kidding…” “And by the way, it is not obvious…”

–Nina, you suggested that Brook categorized Halle B as fully black for her own pruposes. I was merely addressing that Halle, and many in the black community, identify her as black. And if you read my comments, I never said anything about one’s race being obvious. I said OBVIOUSLY you’re right that Halle is biracial.

“… there are MANY types of Asian looks…”
Nina: “No kidding???? Is that right???? You mean ALL Asians don’t look like Lucy Liu or Ziyi Zhang? Thanks for the info! *SMH*”

–Nina, you are the one who said Brook does not look Asian to you and that going for Asian roles is not a realistic goal for her. YOU said that.
There are many Asian American actors (who are not mixed race) who cannot get Asian-specific roles because they are told that they don’t look stereotypically “Asian” enough. I was not patronizing you before, but I could patronize you now.

She never said anything about Asians ONLY playing Asians (Lucy L).

Nina: If you read the article, she specifically stated that she turns down roles if it is not an Asian role. She is responsible for her state of mind, so it doesn’t matter if she was “upset and emotional” during the interview. She has to take responsibility for what what she says like anyone else.

Calm down: Obviously Halle B. is not JUST black, but many in the African American community identify Halle as black.

Nina: Yeah, no kidding. I am black and I know that Halle is not “just” black. It is Halle herself — and she has said this many times — who has elected to identify herself as solely black.

And by the way, it is not “obvious” that she is “just black”. There are many black people with her complexion and similar features who have two black parents (and grandparents for that matter).

A person’s race is not always “obvious,” that is your judgment.

Calm down: ^ Nina, there are MANY types of Asian looks, not just the stereotypical looks that are favored by waspy casting agents.

Nina: No kidding???? Is that right???? You mean ALL Asians don’t look like Lucy Liu or Ziyi Zhang? Thanks for the info! *SMH*

Of course there are MANY types of Asian looks, just like there are many tyypes of “black” looks, “Latina” looks, etc. Don’t patronize me.