I acknowledge how my original reasoning was flawed, that it existed as an example of white privilege and unjust allowances made within a system of societal white supremacy, and that in my playing ‘Missy,’ I was engaging in an act of erasure of Black people.
Ending my portrayal of ‘Missy’ is one step in a life-long process of uncovering the racism in my actions.
At the start of the show, I reasoned with myself that it was permissible for me to play ‘Missy’ because her mom is Jewish and White — as am I. But ‘Missy’ is also Black, and Black characters on an animated show should be played by Black people.