It's all in the words

This audition post just made me laugh because of how it was worded. Now, I'm sure (or at least hope) the person(s) producing this student film didn't intend to offend. I admittedly have taken this out of context 'cause it sparked something in me after being offered the "opportunity" to play multiple coloreds in one show.
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Type: Student Film

Pay: None

Seeking:

	Male, 21-25. Able to portray African American. A streetwise problem solver who is extremely loyal. Male, 25-30 Able to portray African American. A commanding, charismatic, protector. Male, 23-27, Able to portray African American. Clever and resourceful. Male, 18-20, Able to portray African American. A ladies man who acts tough but  runs in the face of a fight Male, 20-24, Able to portray African American or Middle Eastern. A self-centered  adrenaline junkie, he favors his dumbbells and guns more than other possessions. Male, 63-68, Able to portray African American or Middle Eastern.  Brick's loving, spirited grandfather. Female, 58-63, Able to portray African American or Middle Eastern.  Brick's loving, spirited grandmother. 22-27, Able to portray African American or Hispanic. A seductive, flirtatious woman.

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WHAT THE HELL does "able to portray" mean? Does it mean any actor that comes in "able to portray" African American or Middle Eastern or 'Hispanic' in the eyes of the director is eligible? I have no issues with color blind casting, as long as race not is essential to the plot or is not mentioned within the context of said film/play.

That said, as coloreds we are not all one collective group that can swap from Asian to Indian to Negro to Hispanic; we all have a distinct history and story, that may intertwine, but is not all the same.

And in case we've forgotten our history (ah hell...and present) allowing whites to portray coloreds is well, offensive. In case a reminder is needed:

As a kid I really though Cleopatra was white....
and even if "studies prove" she wasn't black, she sure as hell was Elizabeth Taylor white.

Two white dudes...

Dude on right...he white.

"Asian dude"....white.

 

Ah...a feather, now I can play an Injun properly now! He white.

And lest we forget, coloreds portraying stereotypes of coloreds is also offensive...

-Cactor