Posted on 12/05/2015 8:25:57 PM PST by Impala64ssa
Some folks in the Twitterverse apparently don’t know their musical history.
Angry Twitter users took to the social media platform in the days leading up to NBC’s broadcast of “The Wiz Live!†to decry what they considered racist casting. The Thursday-night live production featured an all-black cast led by Queen Latifah, David Alan Grier, Ne-Yo and newcomer Shanice Williams.
That is in keeping with the history of the stage musical, which has always featured a black cast, as well as the 1978 film starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
However, many Twitter users vented about the casting nonetheless.
I just learned there is a black version of The Wizard of Oz called “The Wiz†– how is this not racist?
– Evan (@MJTM) November 23, 2015
This is how I feel. Remaking something with an all-black cast seems…a tiny bit racist. #TheWiz — Jessica (@90s_Jess) November 19, 2015
One user, after tweeting, “This is how I feel. Remaking something with an all-black cast seems…a tiny bit racist. #TheWiz,†deleted her tweet, then went on to explain the thinking behind that deleted tweet.
I deleted a tweet. I was trying to bring awareness. No race should be proud about excluding other races. Not the original. Not the remake.
– Melly (@4princessmel) December 4, 2015
Those complaints about race sparked a heated debate during Thursday’s broadcast. As the hashtag #TheWiz trended throughout the night, the complainers came under fire themselves.
Please have a seat somewhere far in a corner. The wiz was an all black cast. Do your research. https://t.co/of9iZxdpTH — Ms. Misha (@Michele_Myjoy) December 4, 2015
So white ppl mad bc “the wiz†cast is all black,talking about “what if we had a all white cast of the wizâ€umm y’all did… the wizard of oz
– Chardae (@Justcallme_dae) December 4, 2015
Fellow white people, I need all of you to realize that we aren’t fierce enough to perform The Wiz. We gotta stick to Oklahoma and stuff… — Jordan Milam (@Jordan_Milam) December 4, 2015
People not realizing The Wiz and The Wizard of Oz are two different shows and wondering why the cast is all black….. I’m just……..
– Kirstyn Hippe (@kirstynhippe) December 3, 2015
There’s already a “White Wiz.†It’s called the Wizard of Oz & there were no blacks in it..So they made the Wiz! The Wiz isn’t racist,stop it — Maya Beatty (@_mayamia12) December 4, 2015
Laughing at all the ppl mad at @nbc for the #Wiz stating its racist the cast is black. Umm did they not EVER watch the Wizard of Oz? Duh
– Ms. China (@mschinapojazz) December 3, 2015
So ppl are mad that this is an all black cast.. But the original The Wiz was too.. I’m confused. — Zandra Mackey (@I_am_zee_M) December 4, 2015
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron executive produced NBC’s “The Wiz Live!†with Kenny Leon serving as stage director and Matthew Diamond as TV director.
Toto was white . . . wasn’t he?
The Wiz was supposed to be an all black cast to begin with. I don’t see an issue with it.
I just wish the same logic would apply to super heroes, James Bond and all the other he/she is now black idiocy going on.
Turn in to Supergirl and you’ll find Jimmy Olsen is now a bald black guy.
BTW, the ratings were significantly higher than last year's Peter Pan Live!
I have no problem with the producer choosing any cast he/she wants, but they’ve pretty much reaped what they have sown here.
All Black. Well yeah. That’s what it was marketed as back in the day
Ditto cosby
thank goodness we didn’t get into the remake of Amos & Andy from radio to tv.
Or a black Annie(Little Orphan Annie)
Or a black Karate Kid
Or a black Cinderella
Or a black Steel Magnolia’s
Or a black Jerry Lewis (Nutty Professor)
Or a black Ralph Cramden ?????
or...oh never mind.
in theory you are correct because they did the Sound of Music a few years ago which had no black people..
that said i’m glad to see the outrage- with all the diversity/inclusion/PC crap thrown rammed down our throats and everything being racist if you don’t agree with all the PC crap its good they get a taste of their own medicine...
I don’t think anyone is that stupid.
>> The Thursday-night live production featured an all-black cast
Why is this a problem?
“Turn in to Supergirl and you’ll find Jimmy Olsen is now a bald black guy.”
—
Tell me you’re joking.
Please.
.
I agree, really people are that stupid not to know what “The Wiz” is all about?
The worst was a black James West.
No black Archie Bunker??
who cares.....if some one wants to be racially sensitive they can......I will say this if I hear any of those involved in this production complain about not enough people of color being in the production I will ask them how come they made the casting choices they made but other then that, I will watch the production and enjoy it. the only big deal is if those involved in it make race a issue on someone else’s production.
Wasn’t George Jefferson supposed to essentially be a black version of Archie Bunker?
I remember the commercials when I was a kid in the very late .70’s early 80’s in the NY Metro area.
It was funky. I wanted to go because Mike Jackson was in it and the pretty lady that sang “bad girls” also had a part. I thought she was pretty(Donna summers of course)
What’s next? Botching about a non white jazz omsombo?
Frankly, people of African origin do great stuff too!
The Wiz is R&B!
Sincerely,
A white dude.
but making up stories just to feature a certain group is pretentions.....
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