Why Isn't J.K. Rowling Just Honest About the Whole Hermione Thing?
Now, let me say right off the bat that I am a HUGE J.K. Rowling fan. I've read the Harry Potter series at least four or five times and am currently reading it again - very slowly, over the last year or so to really enjoy it. One of my fondest memories of my kids growing up is reading the entire series to my youngest son during the evenings when he was going to bed. I've enjoyed her Cormoran Strike novels too (although not nearly as much, of course).
As a person I think she's wonderful - wildly creative and incredibly generous with her fortune, giving literally tens of millions away (if not more).
But why has she twisted herself into a pretzel acting like Hermione might have been black in the Harry Potter books? She clearly wasn't; saying that the comment in POA when her 'white' face was mentioned might have just been referring to a black young lady having a scare, or similar nonsense when it's pointed out that there are several instances where it mentions her turning pale. She stated it when other characters are black, like Lee Jordan and Angelina Johnson - it seems pretty odd that she would have neglected to mention it even once in seven novels about one of the three primary characters.
It appears to me that it would have been more honest and much easier to say, "Yes, Hermione was white in the novels but I have no problem with Noma Dumezweni playing her on stage in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Color-blind casting has been around for years in the theater and I think she's terrific."
Again, nothing against J.K. Rowling, whom I adore. It just seems like it was an odd way to handle the issue - which never would have come up if they hadn't cast Noma Dumezweni in the play. Is she afraid that she'll come off as racist if all three were white? I can't believe that. It feels very retcon-ny to me - and that series doesn't need any improvements!
Just my two cents worth.
Whistling Wolf should get more camera time . . . he’s like a young Pacino!