To all the black Harry Potter fans out there, we finally got our black Hermione!
Yes, you read that right! Noma Dumezweni will be starring as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which is a short story that takes place 19 years after the last Harry Potter book. Of course, when I heard this, I was beyond excited and I definitely was not the only one. It is about time that we have some awesome women of color in these fantasy books.
https://twitter.com/literalporn/status/678998477909524480
https://twitter.com/iSmashFizzle/status/678712717180608512
But, of course, not everyone was excited to see Hermione played by a black woman.
https://twitter.com/TheSamGrady/status/678970048279654401
HERMIONE ISN'T BLACK pic.twitter.com/WRcR1kl5nc
— Beneficial Cucumber (@Tiaarr) December 21, 2015
@JamilSmith @AlannaBennett @jk_rowling #ReclaimHermione Stop the #WhiteGenocide pic.twitter.com/FeRknyKnNo
— PADORU ON THE LEFT (@Cetezram) December 21, 2015
https://twitter.com/catlliure2/status/679055798849417218
https://twitter.com/GazDemorare/status/678945867382939648
https://twitter.com/Justin_Bebis/status/679000796533510144
And of course people responded right back to this hate.
https://twitter.com/kdc/status/678996946955161600
Your outrage over Hermione being played by a black woman illustrates just how insecure you are about..
Well… Everything.— Media Diversified đžđ© đ”đž (@WritersofColour) December 21, 2015
Hermione's last name is Granger so she has to be white is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
— Mikki Kendall (@Karnythia) December 21, 2015
https://twitter.com/DonNohVarr/status/678969749955457024
I mean even J.K. Rowling and Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom, supported it.
And Neville Longbottom was blonde. I really don't care. Good luck to her. https://t.co/0JNjK3Pe0V
— đșđŠMatthew LewisđșđŠ (@Mattdavelewis) December 21, 2015
Canon: brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever. White skin was never specified. Rowling loves black Hermione đ https://t.co/5fKX4InjTH
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) December 21, 2015
So what’s good haters? But don’t worry Noma’s Black girl magic isn’t stunted because of these haters. You go girl!