Zoe Saldana Hates Questions About Her Ethnicity; Says “People of Color” Don’t Exist
Ever since she was cast as Nina Simone in an upcoming biopic, actress Zoe Saldana has found herself routinely asked questions about race and identity.
And apparently she doesn’t like it very much.
In a recent interview, Saldana asserted that she wishes people would stop asking her about her race, and that “there is no such thing as people of color.”
When asked how she racially-identifies, Saldana responded:
I find it uncomfortable to have to speak about my identity all of the time, when in reality it’s not something that drives me or wakes me up out of bed everyday. I didn’t grow up in a household where I was categorized by my mother. I was just Zoe and I could have and be anything that I ever wanted to do…and every human being is the same as you. So to all of a sudden leave your household and have people always ask you, “What are you, what are you” is the most uncomfortable question and it’s literally the most repetitive question. I can’t wait to be in a world where people are sized by their soul and how much they can contribute as individuals and not what they look like.
She wasn’t done retorting.
I literally run away from people that use words like ethnic. It’s preposterous! To me there is no such thing as people of color cause in reality people aren’t white. Paper is white. People are pink, it’s a bit ridiculous when I have to explain to a human being, that is an adult like I am, that looks intelligent but for some reason I have to question his intelligence and explain to him as if he was a two year old, my composition in order for him to say, “Oh I guess I can chill with you, I can work with you.” I will not underestimate a human being and I will not allow another human being to underestimate me. I feel like as a race, that’s a minute problem against the problems we face just as women versus men, in a world that’s more geared and designed to cater towards the male species.
That is a situation that, I spend time thinking about, and working towards ending that, I guess we could talk about that.
Do you agree with Zoe Saldana?
Is the term “people of color” problematic? Is it unnecessary?
Do you think Saldana was a good casting choice for Nina Simone?
Sound off below!