Black fans of Harry Potter are rejoicing after new casting news for the Potter play Harry Potter And The Cursed Child. For years, fan art of Hermione Granger, originally played by Emma Watson, has depicted Granger as a young black girl.
And now they have their wish.
#OWLPOSTALSERVICE SIREN! @MissDumezweni to play HERMIONE in @HPPlayLDN #CursedChild @jk_rowling @SFP_London pic.twitter.com/E8Jkz4Ylyo
— Baz Bamigboye (@BazBam) December 20, 2015
Swaziland-born actress Noma Dumezweni is playing Hermione in the play production set 19 years after the events of Rowling’s seventh book in the series, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows.
People on social media have been joyous and celebrating the casting:
https://twitter.com/iSmashFizzle/status/678712717180608512
https://twitter.com/EscoBlades/status/678898159393878017
People complaining about the new casting of Hermione: look at the books. Suddenly, that "Mudblood" slur has become even more meaningful…
— Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) December 21, 2015
Black Hermione is just the start. Then we coming for Lyra Belacqua. Lizzie Bennett, too. Maybe Jane Eyre. Watch. *cackles*
— Bim Adewunmi (@bimadew) December 21, 2015
And even J.K. Rowling explained that she sees nothing wrong with it:
Canon: brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever. White skin was never specified. Rowling loves black Hermione 😘 https://t.co/5fKX4InjTH
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 21, 2015
Here’s to the director of the play bringing some #BlackGirlMagic to Harry Potter!
December 21, 2015 -
I wish Noma all the best with this new endeavour.
December 21, 2015 -
Congratulations to Sister Noma Dumezweni.
December 21, 2015 -
Hahahaha, dying at those people who have their panties in a bunch about this fictional character being cast as something other than white. I love that Rowling’s tweet just twists the knife in deeper. Cry us a river, won’t you?
December 21, 2015 -
I wish they cast a black Hermione in the original cast. When I saw this my heart stopped and I started prancing around my room with a wand I was gifted. I love this so much, like this will make a lot of white people sour and other POC’s green-eyed, I could give two fucks, I will be sipping their own nasty bile as well as spreading it I’am so Happy for you Norma you just made a child whoo grew up on Harry Potter and wished their was more black girl representation for black girls.
December 21, 2015 -
Congrats to Noma Dumezweni!!! There are so many kids and adults of all ages/races (looking at myself…lol) who loved the book series and movies so it is good to different people playing the parts. Even though I still ship Harry with Luna…Kanye shrug. And I love that J.K. Rowling is supportive.