…I am a liberal Jewish cinephile who loves “Blackkklansman” and “Mrs. Maisel.” I also fear for my community. Recently, discussions about minority representation in Hollywood have become amplified. Scarlett Johansson exited the film “Rub and Tug” after a powerful backlash against her casting as a transgender man. The success stories of “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Black Panther” have been heralded as proof that diversity and inclusion lead to not only great art but also good money.

It demonstrates progress that Hollywood is beginning to care that minorities represent themselves, and that actors have begun to recognize their missteps. It seems, however, that while progress has been made, Jews have been left out of conversations about representation.

“Mrs. Maisel” and “Blackklansman” are incredibly nuanced and complex in their discussions of religion, community and culture. They are written by masters of their respective crafts. Their sophistication makes the blind spots even more jarring.

Spike Lee famously helped lead the public outcry against the hiring of Norman Jewison, a white man, as director of the Malcolm X biopic he eventually took over. Lee understands the importance of minorities telling their own stories. So why does he disregard Jews’ right to the same self-actualization and narrative autonomy?

It’s obviously not that Jews aren’t in the room in Hollywood; we are. Perhaps we are often absent from conversations about inclusion because many people view Judaism as just a religion, and believe that anyone can convincingly play any religion.

But Judaism is a religion with a rich history of persecution and isolation, and a resulting culture that transcends a shared belief in a certain type of God. Which is to say, it is also a heritage and an ethnicity. Although I had a Bat Mitzvah when I was a tween, I do not consider myself religious. Still, Judaism is a significant part of my identity that has only grown stronger in the past year as Neo-Nazis have become increasingly courageous and anti-Semitism normalized by the President and other political leaders. This Jewish experience, a cultural and not religious yet incredibly rich one, is not unique.

Despite recent events such as the Tree of Life Synagogue mass shooting, Jews’ status as a threatened minority is not always taken seriously, perhaps because some industries (such as film) are associated with Jewish domination. Meanwhile, Anti-Semitic incidents are on the rise, having risen 57% from 2016 to 2017., the single largest jump on record. In New York City, where “Mrs. Maisel” is set, anti-Semitic hate crimes account for 44% of the city’s total hate crimes while Jews are only 18% of the population, according to data from 2017. Many assume that Jews reap the benefits of a completely assimilated minority. White Jews certainly benefit from white privilege, but we are still fighting for equitable representation on screen.

So despite the joy I feel in seeing my heritage represented in “Mrs. Maisel” and “Blackklansman,” I am left with lingering discomfort. What are storytellers really saying when they tell Jewish stories without Jewish actors? Are actors like Brosnahan and Driver being cast because they look Jewish? Did casting directors sit in a room and discuss whether an actor looked enough like a minority that they are not? Should we be comfortable with this casting practice?

I do not mean to suggest that Jews are more important than other minorities or deserve more empathy. I do not disregard the importance of representation for others nor the progress that has been made. But if there is to be a cultural shift towards accurate casting, I don’t want Jews left out of the conversation. I applaud Brosnahan and Driver as artists because they gave soulful, captivating performances. But I am left wondering if there are Jews out there who could do the job.

[Read Lily Majtele’s full piece at NY Daily News.]

The oldest daughter of R Kelly and his ex-wife Andrea is speaking out for the first time since multiple women made accusations of rape and abuse against the accused pedophile on the Lifetime docuseries Surviving R Kelly.

In a lengthy and emotional post that was shared on her Instagram page, 20-year-old Joann Kelly explained why she has remained silent about the allegations being made about her father while showing her support for the singer’s alleged victims.

‘The same monster you all confronting me about is my father. I am well aware of who and what he is. I grew up in that house,’ wrote Joann, who performs under the name Buku Abi.

She then explained her silence by stating: ‘My choice to not speak on him and what he does is for peace of mind. My emotional state. And for MY healing.

‘I had to do and move in a manner that is best for me.’

Joann’s mother Andrea, who participated in the Lifetime series, filed a restraining order against her ex in 2005 following an altercation.

One year later she filed for divorce, and in 2009 the split was finalized, at which point she claims Kelly chose not to be a part of his children’s lives.

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