Youth TV takes the lead in diversity casting

Adrienne Bailon, who plays Chanel in the trio of Cheetah Girls, drew on her Ecuadorean and Puerto Rican roots and chatted in Spanish with a television interviewer. Meanwhile Kiely Williams, an African-American actress who plays Aqua, and Sabrina Bryan, who plays Dorinda and whose real name is Reba Sabrina Hinojos, answered questions and waved to fans.

Deepti Daryanani, an actress from Calcutta, and Rupak Ginn, an American actor whose parents emigrated from India, wore outfits inspired by their roles in the television movie, The Cheetah Girls One World, in which the group travels to India to star in a film after one of its members misunderstands an invitation to Bollywood as one to Hollywood.

Other Disney stars in attendance included Brenda Song, the daughter of a Laotian Hmong immigrant father and a Thai-American mother; Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, a daughter of Filipino and Spanish parents, Roshon Fegan, who is part Filipino; and Shanica Knowles, an African-American actress.

Consider, as a contrast, what the red carpet will look like at next month’s Primetime Emmy awards ceremony. Of the 26 men nominated for Emmys for lead or supporting actor in a drama, comedy or mini-series, all are white, most of Anglo-Saxon descent.

The record of diversity is slightly better among women. Of the 15 nominees for lead actress in a drama, comedy or mini-series, two are members of ethnic minorities: America Ferrera, who won in the comedy category last year for Ugly Betty, and Phylicia Rashad, nominated for the television movie A Raisin in the Sun. Three of the 10 nominees for supporting actress are members of minority groups as well: Sandra Oh and Chandra Wilson of Grey’s Anatomy, and Vanessa Williams of Ugly Betty.

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