I watch movies with a grain of salt. Infernal Affairs with Tony Leung and Andy Lau was pretty cool, but relatively unknown, until Hollywood recasted the film as Departed with DiCaprio/Damon/Nicholson. And if monkeys could sell movies, I always liked the original Planet of Apes.

If America can’t stomach a movie with an Asian American lead, then America is racist. If America would welcome an Asian American lead but Hollywood won’t cast one, then Hollywood is racist. Either way, we shouldn’t be happy that once again we are relegated to subordination.

I think there’s evidence that Hollywood and other elite institutions are more prone to racist attitudes than the rest of society. As a recent example, SNL couldn’t produce a black actor to play Obama, and instead had to put a guy in blackface because they couldn’t find a black man to play the role. Obama is an example of how society is perfectly capable of producing dignified, capable, stereotype-defying minority individuals to occupy leadership positions that require popular approval. In the realm of media, however, there are only tokenized black comedians, none who can actually play a full, real, black American.

Second point, I wouldn’t accept the infallibility of Hollywood/media so easily. Just because they guess that Americans won’t watch a movie with Asian American leads doesn’t mean that they are right. Media elites are just as likely, or more likely, to be infected with racist attitudes as the rest of us, and invoking a financial bottom line is not an automatic excuse. One reason we’ve had “redlining” in this country is because the federal government essentially codified racism and fear into home mortgage underwriting policies, making blacks unable to procure loans and sell property, hence creating 20th century ghettoes. There was never a complete financial justification for creating ghettoes, only short-sighted action influenced by a racist outlook.

If stereotypes don’t apply at the individual level, there’s no reason they should be reproduced at the pop culture level. This is a deliberate vote of no-confidence in Asian Americans as equal members of society, and we shouldn’t let hollywood off the hook. This isn’t just a status quo casting of yet another white male lead for some fictitious story. This was an affirmative decision to demote. I would suggest boycotting this movie.

One final point, we should be especially alert to racist-pandering financial justifications in the context of media because media has such a large role in creating racist attitudes and stereotypes in the first place. In essence, we shouldn’t let the media industry create stereotypes, then use those stereotypes as justifications for their later decisions. Ideas and attitudes are dynamic, and we should force media elites to take that dynamic perspective on race.

“If America can’t stomach a movie with an Asian American lead, then America is racist.”

White America cannot stomach a movie with an Asian American lead and hence it is racist..and Obama is the most deluded individual (or he is on drugs) to think that he is going to get elected President of a white racist country.

Thanks for all the informative feedback. I tried to give this issue the benefit of the doubt, but all your arguments are very convincing.

I think blacks are accepted by media. There are tons of movies where blacks play leading roles. So Obama might get elected. The question is why there is no Asian candidate? Obama is at least running for presidency.

Blacks are accepted in the mainstream media then Asians! I have seen hispanics play good roles in movies than asians. Asians are on the bottom.

1. White
2. Black.
3. Hispanics.
4. Asians or Muslims.