Daniel Kaluuyais tired of being asked about how his race factors into his work.
In a recent interviewwith the U.K.’sRadio Times(asThe Guardianreports), theQueen & Slimstar, 30, told the outlet that it’s “boring” to repeatedly be asked about the topic.
“What is there to talk about race?” said Kaluuya. “It’s just boring to me. What’s the debate? I’m more of a doer — I’m just going to do what I want to do.”
With standout performances in films like 2017’sGet Outand 2018’s smash-hitBlack Pantherthat focus on themes of racial identity and racism, he’s frequently asked to comment on the matter, but Kaluuya said there’s more to him than that.
Frederick M. Brown/Getty
In 2018, the London-born actor previously toldThe Guardianabout his frustrations with having to elaborate on complicated topics as if he speaks for all black people.
“I’m not a spokesperson, I’m an individual,” Kaluuya said at the time. “Who’s the spokesperson for white people? There isn’t one. No one’s expected to speak up for all white people. I’m just living my life. I’m a black man, I’m proud of it, but I’m just living my life.”
Back whenJordan Peele‘sGet Outtook hold of the zeitgeist three years ago and brought issues of racism to the forefront, Kaluuya faced some criticism for playing the role that landed him anOscar nomination.
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Daniel Kaluuya inGet Out(2017).Universal Pictures/courtesy Everett
“When I’m around black people, I’m made to feel ‘other’ because I’m dark-skinned,” he toldGQat the time. “I’ve had to wrestle with that, with people going ‘You’re too black.’ Then I come to America and they say, ‘You’re not black enough.’ I go to Uganda, I can’t speak the language. In India, I’m black. In the black community, I’m dark-skinned. In America, I’m British. Bro!”
Kaluuya went on to reference the racism that he and other black people have experienced in England, including police violence similar to events that have taken place in the U.S., which he explores in his most recent movieQueen & Slimalongside British actressJodie Turner-Smith.
“I really respect African American people. I just want to tell black stories,” he said. “This is the frustrating thing, bro — in order to prove that I can play this role, I have to open up about the trauma that I’ve experienced as a black person. I have to show off my struggle so that people accept that I’m black. No matter that every single room I go to, I’m usually the darkest person there. You know what I’m saying?”
He added: “I kind of resent that mentality. I’m just an individual.”
source: people.com
