Civil rights attorney Randolph McLaughlin says a casting call for non-White actors is racist. Try again, sir.
While many of us are chomping at the bit to get a ticket to Hamilton, others see the Broadway hit as a slap in the face to America’s history.
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As the musical makes plans to expand to other cities, a casting call was placed for non-White actors, and of course, someone had to say something about it. Civil rights attorney Randolph McLaughlin told CBS2, “What if they put an ad out that said, ‘Whites only need apply?’” Why, African-Americans, Latinos, Asians would be outraged.”
McLaughlin believes the casting call violates the New York City Human Rights Law, which makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate against anyone based on race. McLaughlin adds,
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“You cannot advertise showing that you have a preference for one racial group over another. As an artistic question – sure, he can cast whomever he wants to cast, but he has to give every actor eligible for the role an opportunity to try.”
The Actors Equity also has the same policy, but a rep for the Broadway show told CBS2’s Tony Aiello that the notice was approved by the Broadway union. However, the union general denied that, stating that the notice that they’d approved welcomed actors of all ethnicities.
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The city’s Commission on Human Rights has not received any complaints and did not say whether or not it was investigating.
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