David Harewood is a distinguished British actor with a career spanning stage and screen. From portraying the Martian Manhunter in “Supergirl” to the steely David Estes in “Homeland,” Harewood has consistently delivered powerful performances. But beyond his acting chops, Harewood has recently made the news with his stance on a highly sensitive topic: blackface.
Blackface, the act of darkening one’s skin to impersonate a black person, has a long and offensive history rooted in racist caricature. Harewood’s latest statement seems to have found no problem with blackface because “the name of the game is acting”.
David Harewood Says It Better Be Good If Someone Wants To Black Up
David Harewood, the recently appointed president of RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art), has ignited a debate on race in casting. Harewood believes that when it comes to casting, the ability to convincingly portray a character should be the deciding factor and not whether the race of the character matches that of the actor.
While Harewood emphasizes the importance of artistic freedom, he acknowledges the history of blackface. He argues that if a white actor chooses to black up, the makeup and the performance itself better be exceptional to justify the approach, as he revealed in an interview with The Guardian.
“We’re at this strange point in the profession where people go: ‘Oh, you can’t play that role because you’re not disabled, or you can’t play that because you’re not really from there.’ The name of the game is acting,”
“Yes, we’ve got to be representative, but I do think we have to be careful … That even extends to Othello in blackface. I say, if you want to black up, have at it, man. It’d better be f***ing good, or else you’re gonna get laughed off the stage. But knock yourself out! Anybody should be able to do anything.”
Harewood himself is no stranger to playing characters outside of his ethnicity. He performed as Romeo in an all-Black production of Romeo and Juliet and played William F Buckley, a white conservative in Best of Enemies.
David Harewood Narrated A Documentary On Blackface In 2023
In 2023, David Harewood embarked on a powerful exploration of a deeply disturbing aspect of entertainment history as the presenter and narrator of David Harewood on Blackface. The project was a deep dive into the troubling legacy of blackface. It wasn’t just about performance, it was a journey into the shadows of racial caricature.
The documentary served as a stark and eye-opening experience. Harewood didn’t shy away from exposing the shocking roots of blackface minstrelsy and its enduring impact on culture. His exploration went beyond simple condemnation, delving into the reasons behind this practice and its lasting consequences. Fans can stream the documentary on BBC Select.
