I don't know. One of my friends is half black half latina. Zoe Saldana pisses her off because Ms Saldana has a tendency to claim her blackness for convenience.

I am going to say something and it's going to be met with flames, but here goes nothing.

I don't have a formula. I was under the impression that Zoe Saldana was Latina (hence the controversy surrounding her casting), but now I've read that she identifies as black because of her Afro-Latin roots. That was an ignorant thing for me to say, I spoke out of turn. Hopefully the Kinja gods will let me edit my…

I think it's entirely reasonable for her parents' preferences to be first: a feature film, second: no movie, and last: a Lifetime movie.

So....they basically put her in blackface? Awesome >:[

And, no, I didn't know. I admittedly pay very little attention to hollywood.

She was a talented young woman just coming into her own, who died tragically and suddenly. She was their daughter. Can you fault them for thinking she deserves more than some shitty lifetime movie?

Honestly, Lifetime would be the last place I would want to have a bio or me or anyone I love produced and aired. Exploiting every aspect of relationship issues and making her life about abuse and exploitation, ironically.

Poor girl was bullied out of something she was obviously excited about.

Just curious, how much blackness does one need to be black? What's your formula here?

LOL did you not know...they gave her a fake nose and everything! People campaigned for over a year for them to change the casting and they did not oblige.

Wesley Snipes is now the favorite to play Aaliyah.

Omg, they DID NOT cast Zoe as Nina???!?! TELL ME THAT'S NOT TRUE RIGHT NOW GODDAMMIT.

I feel bad for the actress. But I have to say, Aayilah deserves more than a Lifetime movie.

I'm sure Zoe Saldana is chomping at the bit for this role.

I don't get this? I think she actually looks a lot like Aaliyah? Don't get me wrong, I am just as much opposed to white-washing as the next person, but I don't really see how this was an example of that?

But, anyways, I think the bigger issue is how they're making this film against the wishes of the family. That's…

I understand the frustration poc might feel about the casting. However, I hoped the backlash did not personally attack Zendaya Coleman. She is an actress trying to find work.

Aaliyah was certainly darker-skinned than Zendaya Coleman, but I don't really think that their differences in complexion are significant enough to be inherently problematic (unlike, for instance, the physical differences between Zoe Saldana and Nina Simone).

I keep hearing that you don't have to present ID just for walking around. If you're driving, sure you need your driver's license, but if you're walking down the street, you don't need ID. Maybe I'm wrong, that's just what I've heard.

well, I mean, she was walking while black, so...what did she expect was gonna happen?