'Daily Show' comedian: Whitewashing in Hollywood does not reflect today's society
Comedian and "Daily Show" correspondent Aasif Mandvi recently told CNN's Suzanne Malveaux that casting in some Hollywood movies, like "The Hunger Games," and "The Dictator," which stars English actor Sacha Baron Cohen as a North African dictator, illustrate an "attitude that white is the normal and everything else is not."
Mandvi said that when films like "The Hunger Games" take a role written as ethnic and cast it with a white actor, they fail to accurately reflect the diversity of modern life.
"Fifty years ago you could almost excuse it, but today you do have a much more multi-ethnic society," Mandvi said.
Engage: State scholarships not always going to the most needy
Engage with news and opinions from around the web about under-reported stories from undercovered communities.
Report: State college aid increasingly rewarded to wealthy– The Washington Post
Opinion: Navigating Mexican-American identity as an Angeleno non-immigrant - The Los Angeles Times
'Lost' actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje creates film culled from "cultural identity crisis" he faced as a black Nigerian child raised by white British foster parents - The Guardian
Workers over 55 face tough job search ahead - The Latino Times
Opinion: Suspension of FAMU marching band leaves void, hope for better future
Editor’s note: Dereyck Moore is currently employed by NBA digital and previously worked for CNN Digital. He is a graduate of Florida A&M University, where he was a member of the FAMU marching band from 1990 to 1994.
The Florida A&M University Marching 100 band is an icon: they have played at inaugural presidential parades and Superbowls, and been a source of pride.
Ask any “Rattler”, or band member, and they will tell you the Marching 100 is a terrific reason to proclaim "I'm from FAMU".
Without the the band, homecoming won't be the same.
But the pride and exuberance I feel about my experiences in the band has been shaken to the core in light of their extended suspension after the fatal hazing of band member Robert Champion.
I believe the suspension is a necessary step to ensure the safety of young people who simply wish to play their part in a tradition, and am hopeful for the greater good.
About In America
What defines you? Maybe it’s the shade of your skin, the place you grew up, the accent in your words, the make up of your family, the gender you were born with, the intimate relationships you chose to have or your generation? As the American identity changes we will be there to report it. In America is a venue for creative and timely sharing of news that explores who we are. Reach us at inamerica@cnn.com.
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