AMERICA FERRERA ON RACISM IN HOLLYWOOD

[At an audition] America Ferrera received a note that there was already a Latino actor cast in the film, and thus her chances were slim to none. So she decided to take a stand.

"I defiantly bleached my hair blond, painted my face white and made the audition tape," Ferrera said. She didn't get the part. "Let me tell you: Blond does not suit me. I try not to prove my point on audition tapes anymore."

Ferrera described the situation as feeling "powerless" — that what was keeping her from getting this role was totally out of her control. "What do you do when someone says, 'Your color skin is not what we're looking for'?" she told the Times.

http://mic.com/articles/136095/america-ferrera-shares-her-experiences-fighting-against-racism-in-hollywood-auditions#.pcuUM1DJh

It has always amazed me at how the slightest tinge of color in your skin can make you "not white" It's amazing. 

Black Actresses Left Ladder /  Cosby Actresses Far Right LadderFew Exceptions to the Darker Means Less Work/Less Money Rule

And the further you get from "not white" the more your chances decrease as far as getting roles. Prior to Shonda Rhimes, Mara Brock Akil and other black people going to work BEHIND THE CAMERA and influencing actress choices, you could see which black women were having "an easier time" in Hollywood based on their skin shade.  In fact, with black actresses, you can actually put them in order by skin shade and you will simultaneously be putting them in order by their net worth.

Racism in Hollywood isn't all about skin color though. America Ferrera is fairly pale. Some of her exclusion is due to non-white facial features too. And her last name announces she's not likely not-white before she shows up to audition probably isn't helping her either. Her last name may increase her "foreign" look once she stands before those with weak minds --unless a Latina is truly pale enough to pass ala Cameron Diaz.

 Asians whose features look more white have an "easier time" in Hollywood too. That's why Julie Chen had surgery to make her appearance less Asian. And it worked. She got more work and she's famous now. 

Liberal Hollywood has a long way to go on the anti-racism front. OscarsSoWhite the 2016 sequel  is just the part of the iceberg that's riding above the crest of the waves.