In Baz Luhrmann's version of Romeo and Juliet, why is Mercutio portrayed by an African American?

Question

misssunshinexxoxo · Answer

Baz Luhrmann, director of "William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet," portrayed Mercutio as an African-American gay man. Race & Ethnicity History:
Africans have been a part of western and European society for centuries. In Elizabethan England, Africans were commonly slaves and house-servants. They were occasionally featured in stage productions, an occurrence that caused much discontentment among the audience.

sepeario · Answer

Thank you very much @misssunshinexxoxo

anonymous · Answer

hey that's offensive. lol

sepeario · Answer

it's not offensive, it's based off true tradition and practice.

anonymous · Answer

just jokin with ya man my name is @tezporter123

sepeario · Answer

haha :)