I am really looking forward to seeing the Hunger Games movie. Another teacher recommended the book so I read it over the summer—glad I did! I’m hooked on the series.

With the movie coming out in March I was excited to see who had been cast for the roles.

During my Google search I stumbled upon a couple forums where some users were discussing their disappointment with the casting of the movie. Some folks were surprised that Rue is going to be played by an actress of color (Amandla Stenberg). I loved Amandla in Colombiana; and as far as casting on appearance and likeness they couldn’t have picked a better Rue. Well, maybe Willow Smith, but other than her short appearance in I Am Legend, I haven’t seen her acting skills.

So who is Rue? In the book the author Suzanne Collin’s main character Katniss describes Rue, the little girl from district 11, “Up close she looks about 10. She has bright, dark eyes and satiny brown skin…” -Page 98, The Hunger Games.

So as I was reading and the character unfolded, Rue was a little girl of color  (in my head anyway). To be honest I imagined both her and Thresh (another character from district 11) as black children. In the book, those from district 11 worked all day in the fields; which could be analogous to the antebellum South. But I imagined an agricultural or farming community of folks who did their own thing and kept to themselves. Katniss’ district is a poor, mining-based community. So, in my opinion, the writer was reflecting on the cultural divisions in America.

Now as a reader and woman of color should I be offended by Collins’ portrayal of this community that could be likened to the American slaves experience? If you read the book you will understand that all the districts (except district 13) are ruled by the evil “Capital”. Through her pages Collins creates a segregated and equally oppressed new world/old world. She also described her characters with explicit detail; which of course is interpreted in the eye of the beholder (reader). However, I do think Hollywood should take in account how the writer brings these characters to life and stick to the book as closely as possible.

It’s something how our experiences and our imagination interlace as we read.

 

With all that being said, quit taking all the fun out of this for me!! Haha…kidding:)