Lin-Manuel Miranda responds to the In the Heights colorism controversy, apologizing for the lack of Afro-Latinx representation. The new film is an adaptation of Miranda's stage production of the same name, which debuted on Broadway back in 2008. In the Heights is directed by Jon M. Chu (director of 2018's Crazy Rich Asians) and was anticipated by many to be a celebration of Latinx American culture in a blockbuster landscape where Latinx American representation remains sorely lacking.
However, since the film's release this past weekend, critics have challenged the lack of Afro-Latinx representation in the lead cast. The real world neighborhood of Washington Heights (which is the primary setting of In the Heights) boasts the largest Dominican American population in the United States, a significant portion of whom identify as Afro-Latinx. Unfortunately, the lack of dark-skinned representation in the main cast fails to capture the racial diversity found in Washington Height's Dominican diaspora. Corey Hawkins and Leslie Grace are the only two Black actors in an otherwise predominantly fair-skinned cast.
These criticisms have gained traction on Twitter, eliciting a response from Miranda himself. Miranda admits that he sought "to paint a mosaic of this community" but ultimately "fell short" of his goals. He thanks those who brought up their concerns and promises to learn from his mistakes, saying that he is "truly sorry." You can read his full statement below:
In the Heights is not the first film of this caliber to be criticized for inaccurate representation. Chu faced similar criticisms against his previous film Crazy Rich Asians, which featured a majority East-Asian cast despite the racial diversity of the film's setting of Singapore. While both movies strive to feature Latinx and Asian faces in their respective storylines, critics have been quick to point out that racial minorities within these broader ethnic groups still struggle to get the onscreen representation they deserve.
Hollywood has made strides in onscreen representation in the past decade alone. Movies like Black Panther, Coco, and Minari all celebrate unique and diverse cultural heritages, and enjoyed critical and commercial success. However, though these films may be steps in the right direction, it's important to identify shortcomings as they arise. Colorism is deeply ingrained in Hollywood casting practices and will not suddenly disappear overnight – even with films that may expressly seek to celebrate marginalized communities. In the Heights may not be a perfect example of representation done right, but just like its predecessors, the discussions it will spark will hopefully lead Hollywood toward the right direction.
Source: Lin-Manuel Miranda/Twitter