The controversy that followed casting a white student in the role of Esmeralda in the play based on Victor Hugo’s novel on the Hunchback of Notre Dame has made it to the front page of major newspapers in the US. Several students of the high school which scheduled the play managed to have it cancelled, saying that casting a “white” student in the role of a Romni was racist or at least cultural appropriation. Reactions against them were really bad and of course, Breitbart also pitched in.
What does it have to do with Roma: Well, actually not much, as the only thing that links Roma to this controversy is the fact that they are depicted in a play … Let’s hope that they are not the un-intended victims of this controversy.

– Casting Controversy Derailed a High School Play. Then Came the Threats. In: The New York Times. 08.02.2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/08/theater/hunchback-of-notre-dame-ithaca-high-school.html
– High School Cancels ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’ Production After White Student Cast as Lead. In: Breitbart. 05.08.2018. http://www.breitbart.com/tech/2018/02/05/high-school-cancels-hunchback-of-notre-dame-production-after-white-student-cast-as-lead/
– ‘QUITE DISTURBING’: National coverage of Ithaca High’s play controversy brings threats. In: The Ithaca Journal. 08.02.2018. http://www.ithacajournal.com/story/news/local/2018/02/08/national-coverage-ithacas-hunchback-controversy-results-doxxing-threats/320826002/
– Ithaca High School pulls ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’ over casting diversity outcry. The Ithaca Journal. 29.01.2018. http://www.ithacajournal.com/story/news/local/2018/01/29/new-project-planned-place-ithaca-musical-hunchback-notre-dame-cancelled-amid-outcry-diversify-castin/1074212001/ [link-preview url=”https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/08/theater/hunchback-of-notre-dame-ithaca-high-school.html “]