To think that saying Idris Elba isn't suitable to play Bond because he's 'too street'...

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... is actually a racist comment, which - however 'jokingly' said - is absolutely not an appropriate thing to say in an office environment?

I'm on week two of a new position and between this kind of thing and other dodgy goings-on am debating whether to hand my notice in.

WIBU to mention my discomfort to line manager (who heard whole thing, laughed along etc.) or alternatively to just cut and run? Am I being a bit sensitive?

And black actors aren't necessarily equated with being street, eg chiwetel ejiofor is posh.

As are Paterson Joseph, David Harewood, David Oyelowo. Idris did well with the Baltimore accent, so there is no reason to think he couldn't do a posh British accent. I always thought DC was a bit rough looking to be posh.

"whereas Colin Salmon would be spot on"

I've thought for years that Colin Salmon (or Damian Lewis, I'm not picky) would make a great Bond.

They'd say the same thing about Jason Statham if he were in the running

James Norton will be the next Bond
Am I the only one who thinks that if you stuck a couple of bolts in his neck, James Norton would make a splendid Frankenstein's creature? Especially in "Happy valley" when he sort of sports a no eyebrow look.

Sean Connery was proper 'street' and he was fine being white and Scottish.

Idris Elba is not at all like Danny Dyer (thank fuck).

Oooh just googled him. He's gorgeous. Am I allowed to say that?

No you may not, because I have dibs.

Isn't acting pretending to be someone else? So can he act is my question.

I've worked in a fair few racist/sexist place in my time and it is always hard to pin this stuff down. It really sucks OP and I'm sorry you are dealing with this crap. Sometimes you just know things are not right.

YABU!

They just meant he's way to east end/ not posh enough- which is true. I've never seen him play a posh guy an da couldn't imagine him doing suave bond without coming across like a knob.

Also he's too old.

You are on your own IClavdivs!

NRFT yet.
It's a bit of a Michael Scott-esque thing to say. (American Office). He was forever calling a black employee 'urban' and saying 'did you learn that on the street?' so it is a commonly known code for black. Then again, they could have been referencing the author's comment or they could have meant he doesn't seem posh enough. I might have questioned that at the time but I wouldn't quit over it.

CoolCarrie
Yes, I thought I might be - James Norton seems to be the flavour of the month. I just saw the promo for the re-make of "Flatliners" (did it even need an original version, let alone a re-make?) and he seems to be reasonably successfully sporting an American accent, so, if he's clever, there are Big Things in store.

Still, I just can't get away from the block shaped head....

TBF, much the same criticism WERE made about Sean Connery's casting and he had a marginally more refined image than Idris.

Can Idris posh up a bit or do accents? I know I saw him in the C word but I can't remember his accent in that. Mainly he seems to be doing a perpetual Grant Mitchell tribute act. Not even really any obvious Ebonics going on. But it's hard to do a thorough study because looking at him is distracting

Interestingly as well as the blond issue, DC was thought to be a bit too young for Bond.

When white people are described as "street" it's because, like Eminem, they are aping black culture.

Is it really? I can't say I've ever thought about that word particularly deeply. Wouldn't you call an Asian guy or a white guy "street" if they lived an urban, edgy life and preaenyes that way? Talking about "street" style isn't a black only thing for example. I need to think about this more.

Not racist. As others have said other white actors are 'urban' gangster etc etc. Might you be better working at home? I manage part time and you would, with all due respect, annoy me. Would be having a word with hr to warn them about the new delicate employee. ReAlly does sound like you are too easily offended and would be painful to manage unless you work in an office where people are muted and wear headphones most of the time.

Idris has a quite a varied filmography. He doesn't just play an east end geezer in everything.

"Idris Elba is an actor. He has mastered an American accent, various African accents, and yes, and varying kinds of English accents. He’s played police detectives and single dads, Norse gods, and soldiers. To dismiss him as “too street” is to have a profound lack of imagination and respect of his skill as a performer."

Article: www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/calling-idris-elba-too-street-is-racist-just-not-how-youd-imagine_us_55e5c1dae4b0c818f6192140?ncid=engmodushpmg00000006

Teeny bit condescending to tell us he's an actor Honey. It's fair to say he doesn't have the greatest range.

He's not exactly David Harewood or Oyelowo.

Take that up with the article I'm quoting...

I wish they'd ask David Oyelowo actually.

You weren't forced to post a quote that began "Idris Elba is an actor..."

Seriously though, I'm chewing this over and what's REALLY racist/offensive is the line of thought that goes "Time a Black British actor played Bond. Eh. So that will have to be Idris Elba then." As though he IS black British acting talent. There must be dozens of unknowns or relative unknowns who could completely OWN that part.

Yes it's just the same as when they call black people "urban"
I even know a black guy who's a partner of a law firm who gets called street and urban. It's one of those things people just say. Usually the same people who say "I'm not racist, but..." or "don't be silly, course I'm not racist, my neighbour is black and I have an Asian colleague!"

I LOVE DC as Bond, but I also think IE would be fabulous. (He's amazing!!). Is "too Street" code for black? If so, then it's racist. Ian Flemming would probably be mortified with a black Bond, but he was a misogynistic, racist product of his time, and I think it would be wonderful.