Okay, let’s dive into this, we know someone is going to claim this is racist because that is the only argument that seems to matter these days. 

Bluntly put this is not a race issue, this is a keeping true to the story issue, it’s a perception issue, it’s a protection of race issue. 

Snape is described in the book as the following. “Pale” , “Pallid” , “Sallow” , “Color of sour milk” , and finally during his last confrontation with Voldemort, he was described as “marble white”

All of the descriptions above would portray Snape as being Caucasian. With many opportunities to describe Snape as “black” JK Rowling does not. 

In the Harry Potter books, Dean Thomas is described as a Black boy, taller than Ron Weasley, who comes from a Muggle family. Very clearly described as a black boy.

So now that we have established Snape was White. Of course there have been many instances where a white character was acted out by a person of color (never the other way around). 

Now we must imagine what these scenes are going to entail, the only black teacher being ridiculed and hated by all the students, a Black Death eater frequently being referred to as the “servant” of the dark lord. Or how about the fact that Severus Snape was hung from a tree and tormented by James Potter, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew. These students picked on and ridiculed Severus Snape for YEARS. Now we are to see a group of white boys picking on a black boy and hanging him from a tree?

Severus Snape being portrayed by Alan Rickman solidified his appearance in many of our minds. HBO promised to stay true to the story of Harry Potter. Yet, they are changing a critical fact about the most important character within the Harry Potter story. Yes, the most important, if it wasn’t for Snape, Lord Voldemort would have won the first war, definitely the second. Harry would have never survived all those years. Dumbledore would have no inside knowledge. The list goes on.

Paapa Essiedu, is a great actor, and I truly believe if we want to diversify this story we can add him into a role that’s new, or that makes sense? Why we need to change the entire story, for one character seems appalling. This is not a talent issue, this is a “sticking to the legitimacy of Harry Potter” talent issue very readily available, all over the world for someone who would really shine in a role such as this. 

Diversifying should be an acceptable thing, however it is something that should be done automatically. The fact that when a commercial is made we have to see a white person, a black person, an Asian and a Mexican just shows how hard we are trying. Race does not matter in the grand scheme of life, however in a role that is suppose to be a white person, this should be a simple decision.

Seeing this critical change to the Harry Potter story, has washed my desire to see the new HBO show. If they are going to go to such lengths to destroy the worlds perception all to include someone of color. The priorities are disproportionately being balanced. 

Sign this petition if you will NOT watch this special unless they stick to the basics of the story. We want a REAL Severus Snape.