MuggleNet

  • Home
  • Site
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Press
    • Internships
    • History
    • Year in Review
    • Special Projects
  • MuggleNet Family
    • Alohomora!
    • Beyond the Veil
    • Book Trolley
    • Fan Fiction
    • MuggleCast
    • Reading, Writing, Rowling
    • SpeakBeasty
  • J.K. Rowling
    • Biography & News
    • Timeline
    • Website History
    • Exclusive 2005 Interview
    • The Casual Vacancy
    • Cormoran Strike Series
    • Very Good Lives
  • Harry Potter
    • Book Series
    • Book Quotes
    • The Little Things
    • The Hogwarts Library
    • James & Sirius Prequel
    • Film Series
    • Film Companions
    • Music
    • Video Games
    • Coloring Books
  • Fantastic Beasts
    • Book
    • Film Series
    • Film Quotes
    • Film Companions
    • Music
    • Video Games
    • Coloring Books
  • The Quibbler
    • The Front Page
    • Letters to the Editor
    • The Wizard’s Voice
    • Beyond the Veil
    • The Three Broomsticks
    • Bathilda’s Notebook
    • The Department of MYTHteries
    • The Dirigible Plum
    • April Fools’
    • The Quibbler Vault
  • The Daily Prophet
    • Blogitorials
    • Event Reports
    • Interviews
    • Giveaways
    • Listicles
    • Merchandise Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Television Reviews
    • Theater Reviews
    • Wizolympics
  • Muggle World
    • Charity
    • Exhibition
    • Pottermore
    • Quidditch
    • Studio Tour
    • Theatrical Play
    • Theme Parks
  • Fans and Fun
    • Fan Art
    • Fandom
    • Flash Games and Trivia
    • Fun Lists
    • GNOMEs
    • Potter DIY
    • #PotterItForward
    • Potter Weddings
    • Rosmerta’s Recipes
    • Song Parodies
    • Wizard Rock
MuggleNet
  • Home
  • Site
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Press
    • Internships
    • History
    • Year in Review
    • Special Projects
  • MuggleNet Family
    • Alohomora!
    • Beyond the Veil
    • Book Trolley
    • Fan Fiction
    • MuggleCast
    • Reading, Writing, Rowling
    • SpeakBeasty
  • J.K. Rowling
    • Biography & News
    • Timeline
    • Website History
    • Exclusive 2005 Interview
    • The Casual Vacancy
    • Cormoran Strike Series
    • Very Good Lives
  • Harry Potter
    • Book Series
    • Book Quotes
    • The Little Things
    • The Hogwarts Library
    • James & Sirius Prequel
    • Film Series
    • Film Companions
    • Music
    • Video Games
    • Coloring Books
  • Fantastic Beasts
    • Book
    • Film Series
    • Film Quotes
    • Film Companions
    • Music
    • Video Games
    • Coloring Books
  • The Quibbler
    • The Front Page
    • Letters to the Editor
    • The Wizard’s Voice
    • Beyond the Veil
    • The Three Broomsticks
    • Bathilda’s Notebook
    • The Department of MYTHteries
    • The Dirigible Plum
    • April Fools’
    • The Quibbler Vault
  • The Daily Prophet
    • Blogitorials
    • Event Reports
    • Interviews
    • Giveaways
    • Listicles
    • Merchandise Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • Television Reviews
    • Theater Reviews
    • Wizolympics
  • Muggle World
    • Charity
    • Exhibition
    • Pottermore
    • Quidditch
    • Studio Tour
    • Theatrical Play
    • Theme Parks
  • Fans and Fun
    • Fan Art
    • Fandom
    • Flash Games and Trivia
    • Fun Lists
    • GNOMEs
    • Potter DIY
    • #PotterItForward
    • Potter Weddings
    • Rosmerta’s Recipes
    • Song Parodies
    • Wizard Rock
  • Blogitorials / The Daily Prophet
  • 51

Racism and Muggle-Borns – Why a Black Hermione Is Perfect

by Eleanor Harrison-Dengate · Published December 21, 2015 · Updated February 6, 2018

Yesterday we found out that Hermione Granger is going to be played by none other than acclaimed actress Noma Dumezweni. The Internet has justifiably exploded about a “black” Hermione, some saying that it disrupts the continuity of the story, and others that it’s a brilliant choice – especially those of us who wanted a person of color to play Newt Scamander in the upcoming Fantastic Beasts franchise. But apart from all of this, what impact does this casting have on the story itself?
L-R Paul Thornley (Ron), Noma Dumezweni (Hermione), and Jamie Parker (Harry) at the Palace Theatre. Photo by Simon Annand

L-R Paul Thornley (Ron), Noma Dumezweni (Hermione), and Jamie Parker (Harry) at the Palace Theatre. Photo by Simon Annand

In terms of giving the story more resonance, this decision was genius. Harry Potter is an allegory – constantly preaching the values of acceptance and tolerance, so much so that the attitudes of other characters toward Hermione’s “blood status” serve as a yardstick to measure whether they are on Harry’s side or Voldemort’s. Harry Potter is filled with examples of beings who are denied rights in wizarding society; house-elves, giants, centaurs, and werewolves to name a few. Just as Remus Lupin’s lycanthropy was an allegory for AIDS sufferers, “pure-blood mania” stands for xenophobia and racism. The intertextual layering of using an actress who is part of an oppressed minority in our world to further underscore this message was an opportunity the directors did not pass up and is easily the most exciting development so far regarding The Cursed Child.
Everyone remembers the moment Malfoy called Hermione a “Mudblood” in front of Ron – Ron’s reaction was immediate and drastic; and we as readers felt bewildered and then outraged along with Harry. Professor Snape picks on Hermione in class, and even the likes of Mrs. Weasley may have allowed her prejudices to get in the way of her better judgement when she very obviously gave Hermione the cold shoulder after reading Rita Skeeter’s article.
These minor harassments laid the foundation for possibly the best and most chilling scene out of all eight films – when Bellatrix carved “Mudblood” into Hermione’s arm – echoing the brands of slaves in America and Jews in the Second World War.

Source

By casting Noma Dumezweni as Hermione, the directors are highlighting Harry Potter’s message of tolerance and acceptance, and it reminds us that the values the books teach should be understood beyond the realms of fiction, their rightful place not on paper but in the context of our everyday lives.
The fan art used in the cover image is the work of dellbelle39.tumblr.com.

Tags: Hermione GrangerNoma Dumezweni

You may also like...

  • 0

    We’re All Jacob

    December 27, 2016

     by Lauren Littler · Published December 27, 2016 · Last modified June 24, 2017

  • 0

    Eddie Redmayne and Katherine Waterston “Crimes of Grindelwald” Roundtable Interview

    November 8, 2018

     by Catherine Horvath · Published November 8, 2018 · Last modified January 15, 2019

  • 2

    Seven Times the Ilvermorny Story Gave Me the Feels

    July 10, 2016

     by Stephanie Bailey · Published July 10, 2016 · Last modified March 18, 2018

Follow:

  • Next story Signed Illustrated “Philosopher’s Stone” Sold at Auction for Lumos
  • Previous story MuggleNet Rereads “Sorcerer’s Stone”

Polls

Which OWL result do you think best suits "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald"?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
  • Polls Archive

Upcoming Events

  • Sat, Feb 23
    • Quibbler with Harry's interview is released
    • Educational Decree No. 27 is passed
    • Kelly Macdonald's birthday
  • Sun, Feb 24
    • Eduardo Lima's birthday
    • Newt Scamander's birthday
    • Second task of the Triwizard Tournament
  • Mon, Feb 25
    • James Phelps's birthday
    • Oliver Phelps's birthday
  • Tue, Feb 26
    • Rohan Gotobed's birthday
  • Wed, Feb 27
    • Timothy Spall's birthday
  • Thu, Feb 28
    • Alfred Burke's birthday (RIP)
    • Georgina Leonidas's birthday
    • Poppy Miller's birthday
  • Fri, Mar 1
    • Ronald Weasley's birthday
    • Steffan Rhodri's birthday
    • Ron takes Romilda Vane's love potion

RSS Listen to Alohomora!

  • CoS 13 Revisit: Acting Like a Good Guy
  • Movie Adaptations: Making Movie Magic
  • HBP 17 Revisit: Rise Above Your Anguish

RSS Listen to SpeakBeasty!

  • Episode 80: How I Met Your Father
  • Episode 79: A Distinct Lack of Jumpers
  • Episode 78: Snigglywiggly
  • Episode 77: Make Hufflepuff Cool Again
  • Episode 76: Allow Me to Be Frank

More

Quotes

  • “It was necessary. He’s extremely powerful. We’ve had to change his guard three times – he’s very… persuasive. So we removed his tongue.”

#PotterHistory

  • June 16, 2010 – EA Games confirms that the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows video game will be released on November 19.

Did You Know

  • The name Harry Potter appears 29 times in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, while the name Voldemort appears 38 times.

MuggleNet Archive

MuggleNet Mail

Username :
Password :
 Sign Up
 Forgot Password ?
 

MuggleNet is an unofficial Harry Potter fansite. Please email us if you have any questions or concerns.
© 1999-2019 MuggleNet.com. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | COPPA Policy | Terms of Use | Feedback | Credits