By: Evette Champion
Civil Rights attorney, Randolph McLaughlin, feels that the ad is a violation of the New York City Human Rights Law.
“What if they put an ad out that said, ‘Whites only need apply?’ ” said McLaughlin to CBS New York. “Why, African-Americans, Latinos, Asians would be outraged.”
The law says that it is unlawful “for an employer… because of the actual written or perceived… race of any person, to discriminate.” According to the attorney, it is because of this law that employers cannot advertise a racial preference. He also adds that it is alright for the producers of the show to have a preference, but they shouldn’t exclude an entire race.
“Hamilton” is so popular because it mostly features minorities and it has gotten praise from critics and audiences alike for their choice to have a multicultural cast. However, the eyebrow raising casting call asking for non-white actors was not approved by the Broadway union, Actors Equity. The union states that “…producers agree that auditions for all productions… will be conducted in such a manner as to provide full and fair consideration to actors of all ethnicities.”
It should be noted that the ad that was approved states that the production is looking for actors of all ethnicities.
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