Wizard Of Oz Discrimination

The first time I had experienced discrimination in the performing arts was in the high school production of “The Wizard of Oz”. I had made it through the audition and was now competing in call backs in which they decide the lead roles. I was auditioning for (as most girls were) the Lead role Dorothy. I sang the songs with confidence and watched as others did the same. After the audition was finished, I asked one of the student judges his thoughts about my performance. With a stern face he said, “To be honest, you’ve got the talent for a lead but we're casting The Wizard of Oz, not The Wiz”. Upon seeing my puzzled expression, he continued. “ Theres' a level of expectation in a show so lead parts aren’t meant to be so...ethnic,” he said in a harsh tone and then walked away. I remember holding back tears as it was evident that he wanted to cast a good show; just not including a black actress.
When the cast list arrived, I read that I was Glinda the good witch.
I was ecstatic because this was my chance to prove myself. In rehearsals I memorized lines and the song quickly but the part I struggled with was the look. I was told to use a foundation three shades lighter than my skin which covered all melanin in my face and instructed to straighten my hair or wear a blonde wig in order to “look the part”. But I wasn’t the only one going through this. One of my friends, who is also black, had been casted as the Tin Man and they had told him he spoke too “uneducated” for his role. Politely I asked to do my own hair and make up and eventually they gave in because truth be told no one knew how to style my hair or select make up shades for my skin tone. I decided to wear my natural curls and find my correct foundation. I was still going to be Glinda but in my own unique
way. The show went successfully and afterwards met other mixed little girls who were overjoyed in telling their parents “mommy she looks just like me!” And when the show was over I decided to make a mask. Half of the mask portrayed myself as Glinda and the other half showed the cowardly lion. I gave the mask to the theatre teacher and explained that half of the mask represented me on stage, playing a role I was given and the lion half was me. The lion half was timid and shy to be myself or embrace any talent I had due to the fact that I was judged for the pigment of my skin instead of my skill. I conveyed that figuratively I had worn that mask the whole show battling between both sides. But in the end, I took it off and and was free to be myself. Many people my age struggle with their identity and wear their own metaphorical mask. I will be their help to free them from it and let their personality shine. Using my creative spirit I will inspire everyone to be confident in the talents they poses. That innovative power is what I intend to bring to The University of Oregon. I will use the lessons of my past to overcome adversity and inspire others to do the same. I will bond with the people around me and face challenges with a positive attitude and open heart. And together we will work to have a campus of inspiration and unity.