Michael Jackson Played A White Man (Or Woman) and Now One Will Play Him

The casting of Joseph Finnes as Michael Jackson in an upcoming production for Sky Arts, the 24-hour British arts channel, is the latest controvery concerning race and entertainment, and has spurred many firery comments on the internet.  Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon will be a half-hour comedy about a supposed road trip that MJ took along with Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brandon after the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001.

My initial thought was that MJ would probably love the idea, considering that he morphed from a handsome black man into a very peculiar looking, not quite white, not quite black, androgynous figure. But I've come across a couple articles that say when this issue was raised years ago, Michael thought the idea of a white actor portraying him was, well, off the wall. But then again, he did say that it makes no difference if you're black or white (okay, that was a song).

Since Michael Jackson was a real-life person, I can see why some people feel that the actor playing him should also be black. On the other hand, this is art (granted, not high art), so the parameters should be stretched, allowing actors to portray someone that is completely unlike themselves.  Sky Arts makes the argument that they give producers "the creative freedoom to cast roles as they wish, withing the diversity framework that we have set."

While we're on the subject, there's another role, from a very successful franchise that has stirred even more controversy about race.  I'm talking about James Bond.  For the life of me, I cannot understand why so many people get bent out of shape at the idea of a black actor portraying Agent 007.  The Bond character is not even based on an actual person, but a composite of serveral individuals.  Even if Bond was based on a real person, it's art.  That's why the so-called purist who believe that James Bond should only be played by a white actor are just wrong.  And as far as I'm concerned there is absolutely no question that the very handsome, and very British, Idris Elba should be the next James Bond.