#Cousins ; can you please explain to us why a movie executive even remotely fathomed the thought of a white actress playing the role of historical hero and abolitionist Harriet Tubman? Where’s the y’all connection, because we clearly missed it.
According to People Magazine; within a recently debuted Q&A interview between film studios Focus Features and screenwriter Gregory Allen Howard, 52 ; a few behind the scenes details were revealed pertaining to the biopic film Harriet.
Howard also known as the official co-writer for the 2019 blockbuster film; states that within his journey of creating Harriet, a Studio head suggested a specific actress play the star role.
“I wanted to turn Harriet Tubman’s life, which I’d studied in college, into an action-adventure movie. The climate in Hollywood, however, was very different back then,” Howard retells Focus Features. “I was told how one studio head said in a meeting, ‘This script is fantastic. Let’s get Julia Roberts to play Harriet Tubman’ ” He goes on to state that though a few members of the studio disagreed with the movie executive’s suggestion; others openly said, “It was so long ago. No one is going to know the difference.’ ”
If Julia Roberts can play Harriet Tubman then damn it Scarlett Johansson can play…oh wait. Hollywood is wild, man. People of color, friends in the industry, stay sane and grounded as you deal with this madness. Laugh at the absurdity if possible.
— Wajahat "Abu Khadija" Ali (@WajahatAli) November 20, 2019
Since then hundreds of social media users reacted with disapproval. Not only is the suggestion of Julia Roberts playing Harriet Tubman disrespectful but it’s also gut wrenching to know that Hollywood will do anything to block opportunities from black actors-actresses. The biopic film of Harriet displays the darknesses casted upon black peoples through slavery. It shows the strength within a woman’s ability to risk her life to save herself and others. This is a story for black people, our history and culture!
If you’re chasing a Hollywood dream and feel doubtful you’ll ever make it, remember there are executives getting paid shit loads of money to suggest JULIA ROBERTS should play Harriet Tubman. A jar of cockroaches is more qualified than some of these people so DON’T GIVE UP.
— Jordan Crucchiola (@JorCru) November 20, 2019