Dear PJO fandom,

obsessedwiththeworld:

We all know what you’re doing. And it’s no secret. 

You’re all white-washing. 

This is not Leo Valdez. This is a white British boy who is very obviously NOT MEXICAN. When a writer decides that a character is going to have a heritage which is going to be integrated into the plot for important character development, then you, as graphic makers, rpers and whatever else you may be MUST respect that decision on the writer’s part. Ignoring and white-washing when choosing your fancast is just racist. Full stop. There is no getting about it. 

The same goes for Frank. Is Cory Monteith Chinese? No. He may be Canadian, which is one step up from being British, but you have it completely wrong here. You all need to stop and do a quick google search, because it is not hard to find actors who are actually the race stated in the books. 

And I will link you to my actual fancasts here for ideas on what you should be looking for when making graphics, seeing as you cannot grasp the fact that people who are not OMG HARRY STYLES ONE DIRECTION exist in this world.

PS. Nina Dobrev is not Native American either. Stop fancasting her as Piper.

http://obsessedwiththeworld.tumblr.com/tagged/fancast

In addition, Zoë Nightshade is not white. She has “copper” skin and dark hair. The mythological home of Atlas was in Northern Africa, so it would make sense that his children have the coloring of the people living in that region. So as convenient as it is to have Anna Popplewell with her bow and arrows from the Narnia movies, she does not fit the part. Fancasting her (or any other white actress) as Zoë is incorrect and racist.

Another character who’s often whitewashed, for some reason, is Beckendorf. He’s black. I don’t know why some people fancast him as Rupert Grint, but it needs to stop. And for everyone whitewashing Hazel — did you miss the flashbacks that mentioned the name of her school? St. Agnes Academy for Colored Children and Indians. COLORED CHILDREN AND INDIANS, YOU GUYS. If you disregard that, along with all the other references to Hazel’s race, you need some air holes drilled in your skull.

It does not matter if “that’s how you see the character.” If you completely miss a character’s race, you need to read more closely. And if you disregard or ignore a character’s description, you need an attitude adjustment and you need to spend some time reading here, here, here, here, here, and here. For starters. 

Whitewashing is racism.

Respect the author’s decisions and respect the characters. It’s pretty simple.