by wj
A little while ago, Leonard Pitts had a column entitled If Hollywood Does Not See You — And Reflect You — Are You Really There? It was his take on the much-commented lack of minority, specifically black, actors nominated for the Oscars this year.
Now certainly there is reason to wonder why Hollywood seems to have such a limited number (relative to population) of black actors. Especially at the top of the field. But consider. There was a time (which I can remember, even if some of you cannot) when the only minority actors to appear visibly (that is, with their name listed in the credits) in movies or on TV were Sammy Davis Jr. and Jay Silverheels**, and maybe Nancy Kwan. There may still be a ways to go, but there is no question that things have gotten a lot better.
The other place which has gotten better is ads. Once, those were also lily white. Then advertising started using minority individuals and couples when they were trying to sell to minorities — and that was a huge step forward. Now, you barely notice if a major insurance company has a spokesman who happens to be black.
But what don’t you see? What you don’t see are representatives of one of the fastest growing demographics: mixed race couples. Not that long ago (i.e. in my lifetime) interracial marriage was illegal in most (not just some few in the South, but most) states. That ended (where it still existed) in 1967 with Loving v Virginia. Today, in some states, more than a quarter of all couples are of mixed race (or mixed Hispanic).
And yet, do you remember the last time you saw a commercial with a visibly mixed race couple? (And if by chance you did, was the couple anything but a white man and an Asian woman?) What do you suppose is holding advertisers back now?
** A rare instance of an actual Native American, rather than a Jew, playing a Native American.