BLM: “Amazon better cast Lil’ Wayne as Smeagol or else”

In a move both brave and stunning the BLM has protested outside of Amazon headquarters for 7 days straight demanding they “change the cast of LOTR” or they promise to have all Amazon drivers under their control “strike” over the injustice.

BLM spokesperson Darneeka Jones had this to say:

“As a young adult, I discovered that my beloved LOTR books was built upon a terrible racist foundation that made no space for me, a minority fan. The Lord of the Rings is full of Tolkien’s racist dribble. Orcs in Middle-Earth are frequently shown as Black and shown to be monsters and irredeemable. Tolkien explicitly describes them in a private letter as “squat, broad, flat-nosed, sallow-skinned, with wide mouths and slant eyes. Who day sound like to you? I mean come on. Down with Tolkien’s world. Middle Earth needs to change. He only cares about The Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, and humans, but then he introduces the Orcish language in The Two Towers as an “abominable tongue”.

Markus Blum, a transgender, minority, polymorphic, non binary, pansexual Hobbit cosplay legend and prominent voice in BLM’s subchapter “Black Elves Matter” had this to say:

“We are going to protest everyday until they promise there are more people of color acting as elves and wizards and hobbits and such. And it doesn’t happen 98% of the Amazon drivers will strike. Don’t test us. We are here. You goan’ see us now. In the name of Merlin they gonna cry over this spilt potion. The fire is lit but The cauldron is empty with these motha fu**az. Oh yeah, and Cast my boy Lil’ Wayne.”

Well Amazon has done something. They heard them. After 7 days of straight protests and one day of Amazon drivers calling in sick en masse to show solidary with the BLM, Amazon caved and promised to make at least 30 percent of all Hobbits in the upcoming LOTR show either Gay or a person of color, in many cases both. They have also released secondary statements. As Deadline reports:

Amazon Studios on Wednesday unveiled a division-wide policy that underscores its commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity for its content and productions, along with a “playbook” that includes guidelines for its collaborators in the creative community.

Each film or series with a creative team of three or more people in above-the-line roles (Directors, Writers, Producers) should ideally include a minimum 30% women and 30% members of an underrepresented racial/ethnic group. This aspirational goal will increase to 50% by 2024.

Aiming to include one character from each of the following categories in speaking roles, with minimum 50% of these to be women: LGBTQIA+, person with a disability, and three regionally underrepresented race/ethnic/cultural groups. A single character can fulfill one or more of these identities.