Opinion: What calls to boycott ‘The Woman King’ are really saying
When will we get over the idea that we only recognize a woman as a queen when she dresses like Princess Leia?
The latest version of American Sniper, by Chris Kyle for the National Geographic Channel, premiered on Feb. 12.
It was the series’ debut in Russia, however, which sparked a controversy that has reverberated to other countries and led to a boycott of the show.
We thought we were alone — until we noticed a hashtag on Twitter protesting the “cultural appropriation” of the show’s portrayal of Kyle by the series’ producer, who is Caucasian.
Some of the hashtags include #BoycottNHashand #NoCaucasianInNHash.
“It is important to note that the show is about Chris Kyle and Chris L. It does not depict Chris Kyle as a white American male,” the show’s producer, Kyle himself, said in a statement.
We have become accustomed to portraying black men as victims in some of our films, especially those who are American. But we don’t ever see them as victors. The man who killed Osama bin Laden is an American hero. But he was not celebrated until he was captured, brought to justice and made a hero of the American people. And it’s that same process of recognition when an Asian or a Hispanic or a woman becomes a hero.
It was on a late night of Feb. 10 that a hashtag appeared on Twitter in English that said “#BoycottNHash” in Russian.
It was followed by another hashtag that also used American Sniper and “#NHash.” The hashtag said, in part, “The American actor is a very talented man whose image is a symbol of whiteness.”
“It is important to note that the show is about Chris Kyle and Chris L. It does not depict Chris Kyle as a white American male,” the show’s producer, Kyle himself, said in a. statement.
“It was on a late night of Feb. 10 that a hashtag appeared on Twitter in English that said “#BoycottNHash” in Russian. It was followed by another hashtag that also used American Sniper and “#NHash.” The hashtag said, in part, “The American actor is a very talented man whose image is a symbol of whiteness.”
When did it become okay to make fun of people for being white? In this day and age, it is extremely unfair to