My name is Jeanne Crain and I starred in the movie Pinky playing a black character Patricia "Pinky" Johnson. I am actually white in real life. I recently read your essay, The Jewish Jazz Singer, and while I find your assessment of the effects of white actors playing in black face on camera to be powerful, I was wondering your thoughts on white actors playing the roles of black characters. Does that further the subordination of blacks or does it decrease it?
In my role in Pinky I am shown having intimate relations with a white man. Is the mere implication that I am black give a positive spin to interracial relations, or does the fact that I am, in real life white make interracial coupling seem even more degrading? To me it seems as if keeping the real life racial line is maintaining society's aversion to interracial couples.
Conversely, as an actor I think it says a lot for me, as a white woman, to be playing a black character. By me masquerading as black it puts the white and black race on a more level playing field and not necessarily as set binaries.
I would really be interested in getting your expert opinion on this matter.
All the best,
Jeanne Crain
Questions
1. Is there a distinct performative aspect to 'playing' a certain role or race in the entertainment industry?
2. How do we parse real life roles with on screen or on stage roles?
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