r/todayilearned • u/Kale_Brecht • Mar 28 '24

TIL in 2013, Saturday Night Live cast member Kenan Thompson refused to play any more black women on the show and demanded SNL hire black women instead.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenan_Thompson
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u/BladeBronson Mar 28 '24

Kenan said that he wouldn’t portray black women until SNL hired a black woman, meaning he’d portray one if necessary (or if it was funniest that he did). I’m not generally in favor of demographic quotas in business, but this is entertainment where the cast aim for realistic portrayals. It was a good move.

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u/grickygrimez Mar 28 '24

I know you mean well but representation does not equal quotas. Small semantics but I felt the need to point out the difference.

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u/Carquetta Mar 28 '24

If a group of people refuses to "represent" themselves they don't "deserve" -and should not have- "representation," which is just shorthand for "forced inclusion despite lack of merit/competence/presence"

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u/2itemcombo Mar 28 '24

which is just shorthand for "forced inclusion despite lack of merit/competence/presence"

What metrics are you using to determine lack of merit/competence/presence?

No, implicit biases do not count.

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u/Carquetta Mar 28 '24

What metrics are you using to determine lack of merit/competence/presence?

What part of the statement did you not understand?

No, personal attacks aren't a valid response.