It’s incidents like this one that provokes the question: How far have we really come? The Hunger Games fans have taken to social media to “vent” their frustrations over black actors depicting some of the novel’s characters.
Evidently, there is a group of fans who are kinda ticked off that black actors were cast to portray Cinna (Lenny Kravitz), Rue (Amandla Stenberg) and Thresh (Dayo Okeniyi).
While Cinna’s skin-tone isn’t described in the novel, author Suzanne Collins prefaces their black complexion by describing the latter two characters as both having dark skin.
It’s interesting how some readers failed to pick up on the description depicting two African Americans in the book. What’s more interesting are the psychological theories that hint at a psyche defect when one is a racist… so maybe the details referencing the characters’ backgrounds were curtailed by a unique subconscious thought process.
PHOTOS: Introducing The Hunger Games Divas
Nevertheless, fanatics whom were previously oblivious to the characters that now make up Hollywood’s latest film sensation, subsequently, have been vocal about their disappointment.
“Why does Rue have to be black not gonna lie kinda ruined the movie,” wrote one fan in a tweet posted on the “Hunger Games Tweets” Tumblr.
Another described:
“Awkward moment when Rue is some black girl and not the little innocent blonde girl you picture,” while another said: “I was pumped about the Hunger Games. Until I learned a black girl was playing Rue.”
PHOTOS: The Hunger Games Male Stars
In an attempt to respond, Hunger Games Tumblr blogger writes:
“Clearly, they all fell in love with and cared about Rue. Though what they really fell in love with was an image of Rue that they’d created in their minds…And then the casting is revealed (or they go see the movie) and they’re shocked to see that Rue is black…This is so much more than, ‘Oh, she’s bigger than I thought.’ The reactions are all based on feelings of disgust.”
Even if the book never mentioned a black character, does ethnic make-up really matter in a situation where the story plot offers a universal message??
And hey “fans,” what ever happened to reading comprehension?
Peep the gallery for the foul remarks…
