Don’t Blame Taylor Lautner
August 18th, 2008 by Carole Levine
Don’t blame Taylor Lautner.
He’s the winsome 16-year-old from Holland (Michigan, that is) who won the role of Jacob Black in the upcoming film Twilight based off Stephenie Meyer’s mega-selling book series.
It’s quite a role, let me tell you. Twilight’s Edward, Bella and Jacob are well on their way to becoming the next Harry, Hermione and Ron. But unlike Harry, Hermione, Ron, Edward and Bella, young Jacob is a Native American; a member of the Quileute tribe from northwest Washington.
Taylor Lautner, by contrast, is not Quileute. In fact, he’s not Navajo, Cree, Lakota, Cherokee, Mohawk, Seminole, or Ojibwa. He’s not Native at all (unless you consider his recent “discovery” of a long-ago Indian ancestor lurking in the family tree).
Yet the winsome 16-year-old from Holland is Hollywood’s idea of Quileute’s werewolf teen heartthrob. Look at it this way…Imagine casting Kate Bosworth as Celie in The Color Purple.
Outrageous? Offensive? Yup, on both counts, which is why the screaming silence from the self-appointed arbiters of the culturally correct is all the more…well…outrageous and offensive. And not at all new.
Native Americans have been minimalized, trivialized, co opted and appropriated for as long as there have been movies; burnished caricatures of the savage, Indian princess or mystic played by White folk speaking pidgin English. By today’s standards, the vision of Natalie Wood, Chuck Connors and Burt Lancaster in brown makeup and bad wigs might seem quaintly amusing. Think again.
It has been a hard, long slog for contemporary Natives to break free of these overtly racist stereotypes—which is why a major film like Twilight is such a prime opportunity to introduce the world to a contemporary Native who isn’t an alcoholic or New Age spiritualist.
The claim that no young Native actors have the qualifications to fill the role is nonsense. For starters, Nakotah Larance, who appeared in HBO’s Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and was a standout in Spielberg’s Into the West miniseries definitely has the resume and looks. Yet the six-time world champion hoop dancer was passed over as were other capable Native actors.
Too “Indian,” perhaps?
Unlike other ethnic groups, Natives have not moved into the ranks of Hollywood’s coveted minority d’jour status. Sadly, they are not alone. The recent film 21, based off the true story of MIT’s blackjack team, conveniently altered some key characteristics of the original students—like the fact that the math wizards who bested the Vegas casinos were Asian. Not to pick on British actor Jim Sturgess or the talentless Kate Bosworth again, but neither look vaguely Chinese to me.
…Which brings us back to Twilight. In interviews, Lautner has complained about the Indian wig blowing in his face and being itchy, but don’t get the idea he hasn’t taken the time to research his character’s Native roots.
“I was expecting something so much different than me, but the real thing is that they (the Quileute) are just like me,” Lautner said at the 2008 San Diego Comic Con. “They show up in basketball uniforms. We were talking about, 'What do you like to do for fun?' 'Oh, I like to go to the beach. I check out girls.' I was like, 'Really? You little Quileute boys…’”
Outrageous? Offensive?
Don’t blame Taylor Lautner.
Aren’t I a self-appointed arbiter of the culturally correct? Haven’t I done more than scream silently?
Comment by robschmidt — August 19, 2008 @ 12:22 am
Why Did Twilight cast a non-Indian to play Jacob Black! Why! This is so offensive to the Indian community and Native film world! Please replace him with a real enrolled Indian for the sequal please! This is very Racist.Why did they cast this boy in a Native Role? He is NOT even American Indian! There are plenty of Native American ACTORS that could have played this role. Why did Hollywood do this? Why are they continuing this RACISM? This boy should not be playing an Indian! A black guy doesnt play a white guys role, a Asian doesnt play a Mexican guys role. Why would they cast this guy for a Indian part. This disgusts me severly! I really liked the rest of the movie but when I seen this boy up there stealing all the other Native Actors role in a big movie it really fired me up. I am very dissapointed in the casting team for this choice. There are so many good real federally reconized enrolled professionally trained Indian Actors out there who could have played this role just as good or even better probably. I think all the Indians in Hollywood should bring this to the productions attention and to the world. I hope they replace this kid with a real Native Actor in the sequal. Please. I do not dislike this kid I am just very disgusted that they chose him instead of a REAL Indian, a real Native Actor out there busting his ass to try and make it and this happens. Really Racist. Really Sad. Really Offensive.
A REAL INDIAN from the REZ
Comment by reelndn — November 25, 2008 @ 11:17 pm
Why Did they cast a non-Indian to play Jacob Black! Why! This is so offensive to the Indian community and Native film world! Please replace him with a real enrolled Indian for the sequal please! This is very Racist.Why did they cast this boy in a Native Role? He is NOT even American Indian! There are plenty of Native American ACTORS that could have played this role. Why did Hollywood do this? Why are they continuing this RACISM? This boy should not be playing an Indian! A black guy doesnt play a white guys role, a Asian doesnt play a Mexican guys role. Why would they cast this guy for a Indian part. This disgusts me severly! I really liked the rest of the movie but when I seen this boy up there stealing all the other Native Actors role in a big movie it really fired me up. I am very dissapointed in the casting team for this choice. There are so many good real federally reconized enrolled professionally trained Indian Actors out there who could have played this role just as good or even better probably. I think all the Indians in Hollywood should bring this to the productions attention and to the world. I hope they replace this kid with a real Native Actor in the sequal. Please. I do not dislike this kid I am just very disgusted that they chose him instead of a REAL Indian, a real Native Actor out there busting his ass to try and make it and this happens. Really Racist. Really Sad. Really Offensive.
Why!! Ahhhhh What Will We DO?
Comment by reelndn — November 25, 2008 @ 11:22 pm
[…] There’s been a lot of controversy over the Native American Roles in Twilight lately. Here are some of the things being said: Depiction of Indigenous Peoples in Twilight Outrage Native Americans Don’t Blame Taylor Lautner […]
Pingback by Weekend update. :) « The Twilight Tabloid — February 1, 2009 @ 5:32 pm
Stephenie Meyer had Steven Strait in mind to be Jacob Black!!! For the most part, most "native-american" people I seen have the true Native American appearance diluted by inter-racial marriage That’s not a bad thing at all but most of the Native Americans out there are probably only 1/3rd Native-American blood at the highest concentration so Is this about how much % you have in your blood vs Look OR about Culture, that is having to be Registered in tribal headquarters to be consider a "Real Native-American" (I heard some tribes accept 1/8 people as long as they’re raise in the culture you’re a Real N-A). Anyway It’s not like Taylor looks like Chuck Norris a white boy there’s no paint/makeup or any alteration to his apperance. I mean isn’t that why they were questioning his heritage in the first place cause he didn’t look white grrrr. If I seen him walking in the streets I never would have thought he was white. And those pics you provided of taylor lautner vs elizabeth taylor is a good example of their distinct looks even with the N-A outfit & paint she doesn’t fool me as being N-A because she doesn’t have any indigenous/mogoloid features she looks caucasian with an olive complexion which is what you see in S. Europe & mediterranean area. As for Taylor with normal western clothes & hairstyle he does not look white to me his features (nose teeth eyes & natural skin color) looks strange for it to be european I’ve seen his TV apperance from his kid years & now and I thought he was hawaiian or mexican (a non-white person). Nobody questions solomon trimble’s purity of N-A blood (he does not look pure to me ) but because he was just raised under Apache culture/upbringing therefore registered so he is "Real" so I’m guessing your post has to do with Culture? but FYI casting directors don’t care about an actor’s Culture/upbringing when casting roles how limited would that be if that were the case anyway that is infact the least of their problems they were even considering Micheal Copon (filipino) for the older JB. For me Taylor Lautner is the perfect Jacob Black he is exactly how I pictured him down to his perfect smile and he’s a great actor.
Comment by anen87 — February 2, 2009 @ 1:03 am
I feel jipped. That’s it. Jipped. I am native american and I read the books. I was so excited to see the movies and then they have…Jacob. He isn’t native. He has some long long relative that was idian. There are "real" natives out there that do have the talent to act. They could have portrayed the part better. More to the native standards. I LOVE the books but he isn’t even….I am at a loss. I wish hollywood or whoever did casting would’ve gotten an indian for an indian part.
Comment by Theresa — July 2, 2009 @ 12:18 am
all i can say is that Taylor Lautner is a very lucky guy because he was able to kiss Taylor Swift on the lips.
Comment by body detox diet — August 1, 2009 @ 3:51 am
I agree 100%. I wrote a short editorial letter to Entertainment Weekly about the same subject, but of course, they didn’t print it. Thanks for speaking up!
Comment by Kellie — August 4, 2009 @ 2:25 am
People back off. What part of him complaining about the wig have any to do with researching American Indian roots. IT’S A WIG. IT ITCHES. And if you guys didn’t edit the interview he had said that he was excited about wearing the wig. If he’s not accustomed to the long hear it’s going to be uncomfortable. Secondly, he auditioned for the part and many others did including native Indian Americans, it came down to acting. He was the best actor to portray Jacob’s character and he looks native american. And lets real here. He’s an actor, he ACTS OUT A CHRACTER. You dont look mainly on appearance it’s mainly the person’s ability to portay their given chracter in the light the writer wants it to be shown. And clearly Stephanie Meyer- THE WRITER OF THE BOOK- wanted him to play Jacob. She made up Jacob Black’s Chracter so i thimk she’s the perfect judge to say who did or did not portray him the way she thought of as she was writing the book. For my opinion, Taylor played Jacob Black perfectly. It’s like she wrote about Jacob envisioning jacob. PPl relax. I can emphatize and symphatize because i’m black. Put he passes for indian and he did a good job potraying jacob. And if i’m not mistaken Billy and a lot of the wolf pack are of native american decent. aND ON AN ENDING NOT YOU GUYS DONT KNOW HIS WHOLE FAMILY TREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Kay — August 13, 2009 @ 1:10 am
oh and to Theresa IF THE NATIVE AMERICAN’S THAT COULD ACT DID SHOW UP MAYBE THEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN THE PART. Taylor was the best actor out of the group. If they had chosen a native American maybe the acting would have sucked. this doesn’t come down to race it comes down to talent. And just to make sure u ppl don’t start saying i’m racist - i’m black and my people have been through alot.
Comment by Kay — August 13, 2009 @ 1:16 am
i LOVE taylor lautner and hes an amazing actor! who cares if hes not an indian!!!thats not racist at all!! he deserves this role and he gets it!! so HA! 2 u judgeing peeps! Go Taylor!
Comment by hannah — August 17, 2009 @ 7:07 pm
WOW! I was beginning to warm to the Twilight saga because of the opportunities it has generated for Native talent in contemporary roles on the big screen. I had great hopes for the possibility the series had for stimulating interest in Indigenous issues among up and coming generations. Finding this out about Taylor makes me wonder if things are ever going to change! I now see his cheesy roll of the eyes in the delivery of the line about "the palefaces" in a totally different light!
Comment by Lynette Hughes — August 18, 2009 @ 12:40 am
1. Honestly, I thought Taylor Lautner was Native, or at least part Native-American/First Nations when I first saw him. I found out he wasn’t about 2 months ago. Let’s be honest–he doesn’t look white, no more than Rafael Nadal does.
2. Anyway, to KAY, I disagree with that comment you made about the ‘auditioning N-A not having the talent.’
T-Lautner was chosen because he and Kristen Stewart had chemistry. It was Kristen who convinced the casting directors to hire him (read the EW article).
Don’t get me wrong. I like the kid and everything and I think he’s doing a good job and it would weird to fire him now, like it was weird they fired Rachelle Lafevre. But….
As a black person, I sympathize with F-A/N-A peoples here. N-A- peoples have been ignored or poorly (stereotypically) represented.
This is the equivalent of Angelina Jolie playing Marianne Pearl in the movie ‘A Mighty Heart.’ Would you, as a black person, say there were no ‘qualified’ or talented black actresses around (a-hem, Thandie Newton) who could’ve played the part–thus it was given to Jolie?
Comment by Sophiaz — August 18, 2009 @ 1:45 pm
rafael nadal is a white spaniard. any native in the parts of the continent would make the same distinction. Taylor obviously has significant native blood and whether he is culturally native is just a sign of the times. he is of french,dutch,and german ancestry! not italian or greek. Indigenous ancestry isnt allways easy to trace.
Could the black people in these post stop using that as a reason to prove they are not racist?
Comment by James — August 21, 2009 @ 10:24 am
he fooled us playing the role as a native american. it came to a disapointment finding out hes non. yes it was offensive knowing that there are other native actors but not very good one so they choose him for the good look and the talent to play the role so dont blame him for the part i would say he is a good actor and looking foward to the next show with out him it wouldnt be twilight the new moon
Comment by kenzie — August 25, 2009 @ 1:08 am
Seriously have you ever seen a german, a french or a dutch who look like him? I never saw one, all of them have a obviously white skin and caucasian features, however this kid doesn’t look 100% white at all. You really have to look to the kid’s face.
I really believe he has some native origin on him, he probably only discovered that right know because it was only after he get this role that the curiosity about his roots came out. Booboo Stewart, who was casted to the movie too, seems less native thanTaylor and he is native.
And let’s face 1 thing, the person they really wanted to play this role at first, Steven Strait, looks nothing like a native. Near him Lautner is totally the best choice.
If you criticze this Jacobs choice, and he looks native, if it was Strait doing it then you would be right for his lack of resemblence to native people. And I would support those critics 100%.
Comment by Hannia — September 8, 2009 @ 10:24 pm
Boo Boo is not native american. His mom is full asian(chinease, korean, japanese) his dad has all the white(Scottish, russian, and the native american comes from his dad WHO DOES NOT LOOK NATIVE NO WHERE NEAR IT. They are spray tanning Boo Boo like crazy. THAT is not is natural skin color. His natural skin color is like his mom’s and dad’s. All Boo Boo had was that he was native like 5 generations ago but they cannot prove with any kind of documenation or a CIB card. BUT David Slade made the call not Emmy award casting director Rene Haynes. David Slade said paper work was too intrusive. IF CHRIS Weitz casted Eclipse Boo Boo Stewart never would have gotten the part of SEth Clearwater
Comment by jane — September 22, 2009 @ 4:54 pm
To hell with all this! I don’t go spend my money on a movie because the characters are the same race as I am. Or because the characters surpose to be a certain race. Trust me, I’ve done it before and the movie STINKED UP THE WHOLE THREATER! I wanted my money back… and then went to see a movie that had onone in it that looked like me or anyone I knew and ENJOYED it. IT won several awards, too. These movie makers are trying to make money, and Thank Goodness they are. Won’t nothing make me more angry than to go to a movie and see a FUNKY acting actor, white, black or red, that you could have casted me in and done a better job. Oh, and I hate it when they put beautiful women in roles just because of their looks, and can’t act worth a damn! Now theres a subject, all women can protest too. If they had change Taylor’s character to an Indian, fine, I still would go see the movie. But the indian casted would have gotten critized just like any other actor if their good or bad. Taylor’s not exempted. I just want to see a good movie, even if it takes one white guy to play a role or not. I just want to be on the edge of my sit!!!!
Comment by Ronnia — September 29, 2009 @ 8:17 pm
PEOPLE . Calm the frig down . Like seriously. WHO CARES!? A indian actor… hmmm every person who is dark must have SOME indian in them.
Comment by Rebecca — October 16, 2009 @ 8:50 am
Ok . So All indian actors are great , however Taylor got the role because he is good? I mean we shouldnt blame him.
Comment by Nicole — October 16, 2009 @ 8:53 am
Taylor lautner is infact PART NATIVE AMERICAN HE’S NOT A NON-INDIAN! he’s half just like me. im cherokee but half, im also african-american and white scotish and italian. Don’t blame him. Is there somthing worng people?
Comment by Cherokee_Girl — October 18, 2009 @ 6:57 pm
GO TAYLOR ! I LOVE YOU ! and whats all this fighting about anyway i mean COMONN ! grow up a bit .
actors are actors ?
dont blame taylor <3
Comment by SASHA — October 20, 2009 @ 10:49 am
I find this offensive. I am a Native and I know that there are just as many young Native actors as there would be caucasian , latino, asian, and or other worldwide actors pursuing parts in America. In fact, at Haskell Indian Nations University, there is a fine program for Native persuing actors. Taylor is doing a fine job but why not give the Native parts to ACTUAL Natives? I know that they’ve recently got one to play the part of Emily in New Moon and i love it. I was half expecting them to get some glamerous caucasian girl from L.A.; spray on body tan, dyed hair, and brown contacts. Give our Native actors a chance at the very least. It is a slap in the face. Are we always just going to do HBO shows, low budget movies, and be extras while non-Natives be the stars? We are still here and around. More than likely at Native colleges or just annonymous-one can’t always tell one but don’t let the feathers, jewelry, long/braided hair, or the smell of booz be our trade mark. We are a whole new generation and want to be heard.
Comment by Avary McKay — October 22, 2009 @ 3:32 am
By the way, our Native blood is not watered down in a majority portion. Perhaps some tribes more than others but I’ve seen many FULL blooded Natives as there are 1/16ths or 1/8ths. It’s not a matter of being angry with Taylor-it’s just the fact that it seems as though there was no thought as to there being a Native cast to play in this movie. It is what it is. I would like to have seen this "film-barrier" broken through for natives in my young years. I’ve read the books prior to when the movies were thought of being made and i always thought that this would be a huge opportunity for our young actors…but no for the most part.
Comment by Avary McKay — October 22, 2009 @ 3:45 am
I am a full blood native woman and I find this offensive. At one point in my life I went to a casting call for native extras. They said my features were to hispanic? Again I am a full blood native woman. Now to make things worst my friend who is only 1/4 native and the rest mexican was asked to be in this show? Why are other cultures allowed to portray us as what they think a Native person should look like. I am ashamed to see that in my peoples land we still deal with these injustices and ignorance on a daily basis. Many can talk about what is the big deal, but if someone was to portray them in a movie wouldn’t they want it to be as acurate as possible. Other cultures tend to think that we are all assimilated to the point that we have lost our cultures and ways but how untrue this is.
Comment by mvskoke woman — October 29, 2009 @ 4:45 am
I feel conflicted being of mixed race parentage myself I can understand casting someone of Native american actor but where are they and I think Taylor is right for the role.
I just wish there was more cultures represented in america Native american chinese mixed raced etc etc
If Jacob was black in the book I would want Jacob to be black
Comment by Micah — November 5, 2009 @ 4:06 am
And Rob Pattinson is an English man playing an American Vampire, oh and Jacob is not only Native american, he is also a shape shifting wolf, what a slap in the face, I mean muzzle, for the wolves out there. Come on people, this is not the United Nations, it is a film! Lighten Up!! There is plenty of cultural integrity in the wolf pack and the actors such as Tinsel Korey (Emily) who are giving back to communities. I was at the Brisbane Twilight convention that Tinsel and Chaske attended and have read heaps on this very issue (close to my heart as I have an involvement in Indigenous Australian affairs). The fact that this discussion is occurring and people are thinking about these cultural issues in the context of mainstream culture can only be a good thing. Jacob’s ethnicity is one dimension of his character and Taylor was a great casting choice for the role. That is what acting is about - playing roles. The content is far from racist, the spirit and intent of the role is a spectactular story of traditional mythology in the context of contemporary culture. It portrays Native american people as being powerful and compassionate who live with integrity and loyalty to their traditional values and stories. You need to get a different perspective.
Comment by Sharyn Logan — November 6, 2009 @ 4:36 am
as a black person i think black and native americans should invest more in setting up their own film industries with mainstream themes as opposed to stereotype films(that was 4 the black folk) cause i feel hollywood can do what they like! we have to do our own things instead of waiting 4 racist hollywood to give us a break. they can get king kong to play a black man if they want i don’t care they don’t owe me nothing. what i’d like to see is a native indian directing a film like twilight and hiring a native indian actor to play the lead now theres a thought. Godbless
Comment by jerry — November 8, 2009 @ 11:10 pm
Clearly some of the people commenting on here are either children (who dont have a inkling of racism in the film industry). There are Native American film makers, there is the 34th Annual American Indian Film Festival happening in SF right now. However, Hollywood has a long history of casting whites to play Native roles and it is offensive. If you don’t understand why I recommend you go do some reading like Colin Calloway’s First Peoples or Native American Voices. If you are not indigenous how can you understand what indigenous people think about an issue like this.
Comment by JoHanna White — November 9, 2009 @ 10:45 pm
I can understand the point you were trying to make, It was valid and appalling that this is still going on in this day and age.It happens to all groups of people, asians all get lumped in with two thirds of the population as if all asians are the same have the same beliefs, blacks too have gone through the same issues in the film industry. Many times what the writer called for is not what is cast and that has included, black, native, east indians, asian and whites. Really what is comes down to is a white guy got the script and did what he wanted with it. Would you be yelling if it was an asian, black, east indian, or most especially a white guy, I think not. And that is part of the problem here, this sense of entitlement. This woman can tell you I no longer expect to get what I don’t work for myself. If some one wants to cast the best person, the one who acted the best, and that is what making movies is about, finding the best actor, they have that right. If you feel differently make your own movie. To say:" Look at it this way…Imagine casting Kate Bosworth as Celie in The Color Purple.Outrageous? Offensive? Yup, on both counts,"… Really now??? are you for real? not the same at all, Kate could never pass for an african american woman, blond hair, blue eyes as celie, the charater played by whoopie goldberg. Its called type casting people and Taylor Lautner looks "Native" It’s the movies and not about reality and for god sakes the movie’s about vampires and werewolves. also to say: He’s not Native at all (unless you consider his recent “discovery” of a long-ago Indian ancestor lurking in the family tree). It’s that sort of Elitism that keeps good hearted folks away, who may want to explore the Native teachings.Spirituality is not about the color of one’s skin as that editorial seems to suggest. A sort of reverse bigotry. In a world were what is wanted is to be seen as equal, there is a vibe of we’re more important because we’re native. If you scream separate you get separated. Add guilt to the picture and you get more of the same, from both sides. It’s time to stop the whining and start the doing.
Comment by awoman ashamed — November 12, 2009 @ 12:26 am
I read both of the first two books and was so pissed at the way Bella treated Jacob. FAce it ya’ll, she knowingly USED Jacob. That’s just straight up WRONG on soooo many levels. ANYWAY, I didn’t see the first film, too many critics panned it and I hate watching a badly made movie based a good book, remember "Silence of the Lambs"… So I didn’t know about the Taylor Lautner kid being cast as Jacob. But when I saw the trailer on line I said to myself, "I bet he isn’t even Native American". I purposely set out to find the answer for myself because even if I intend to see the movie, which I’m not because I decided I hated the New Moon book, but even if I did, I wouldn’t give them my money if they didn’t properly cast the film. So sorry Hollywood. You won’t get my $10 at the box office, my $9.95 when it comes out on DVD and itunes, my $4.95 when it arrives On-Demand on cable, or my $1 if it gets in RedBox. It’s the 21st Century and the folks in Hollywood should know better. So until they do, I’m not payin’ for any mis-cast film!I’ve also heard Hollywood has mis-cast "Avatar: The Last Airbender"….like you couldn’t find ANY Asian kids who did martial arts? Or were you thinking that "this is a time to NOT stereotype" Give me a break! This kid saves the world, & you don’t want to "stereotype"? Well white folks savin’ the world is a stereotype if I’ve ever heard one!
Comment by laffitaffi — November 14, 2009 @ 11:40 pm
To Sharyn Logan,
I was also at the Brisbane Twilight convention and as I said above share your hopes that Twilight will get the next generation thinking about Indigenous issues wholeheartedly. I must say I have serious concerns and doubts about the themes and practices of the “Twilight” franchise and many issues surrounding it, which have grown over time as I observe more and more of the goings on, but I am encouraged that you at least have the same hopes for the enlightenment of non-Indigenous peoples to contemporary Indigenous issues that I do and hope that these hopes will be supported in some real measure if only as a biproduct of the “Twilight Phenomenon”. At the very least it has certainly uncovered much of the ignorance about Indigenous peoples that still remains and perhaps will open wider discussions on issues such as those raised here, but then I once said the same about Pauline Hanson and how wrong I was!
Comment by Lynette Hughes — November 16, 2009 @ 12:42 am