I am especially moved by today’s blog, “What is the true image of a hero?” When I first heard this marine’s story, my mouth literally dropped — I mean fell completely open like the character action directions I give in my scripts (scripts — because who does that in real life right? Well, maybe it does happen, but when a person is alone, in bed (a whole other topic, that one is) watching late night news?). An inaccuracy? Whom are they kidding? Of course, they knew he was black!

One of the first things I learned in high school playwriting class is when a script calls for a man, the roll will be cast with a white man. When a script calls for a tall, dark and handsome man, the roll will be cast with a tanned, brunette white man. When a roll calls for a black man, it MAY be cast with a black man or, if the part doesn’t call for stupidity or other black stereotypes, he may STILL BE CAST WITH A WHITE MAN! My point? When a white man enters into a place or space as was the case at ground zero, he is simply described as a “man.” When a black man enters a place or space, he is described as a “black man.” American’s are guilty of this cross-culturally. African Americans do it too! We say, “A white man came in and…” So when the details about Sgt. Thomas were recounted to media and authorities, whom did they say assisted in that daring rescue? “A black man…” How then was there an inaccuracy in the script about this American hero? My guess would be there was no inaccuracy in the script! As a writer, I refuse to believe that the screenwriter failed in capturing every important detail of that moment. In due time, I am going to try to get a copy of the original script and prove that it must surely read – in proper screenwriting format — “SERGEANT JASON THOMAS (30’s, black).”

The inaccuracy came in the casting room by way of the development room. The African American actor’s argument has always been, “It doesn’t matter what color the script calls for, we can play any role.” How convenient was it that FINALLY Hollywood gave in to that notion? It didn’t matter that the script called for a black man, because white men can play any role.

What is the true image of a hero? The American hero? Don’t we all know? Haven’t we seen images of him upon his arrival to the states from Vietnam? Didn’t we see him come home from Desert Storm? Haven’t we seen his proud family and other patriots saluting him in recent years since the “War on Terror” began? In all fairness I suppose some of his relatives could be black but its not those relatives I’ve seen on my television screen. We know the image of an American hero. Hollywood knows it too. That’s why they had to cast a white man in a role that was a black man’s — “SERGEANT JASON THOMAS (30’s, white).” They didn’t want to confuse Americans. Of course an American hero couldn’t be black.