Growing up as a woman of color, I always wondered why I didn’t look like anyone that was on TV. Although the American population is extremely diverse, Hollywood lacks racial representation. For instance, how is it possible that a show like “Friends,” which takes place in New York City, has an entirely white cast?

“People look up to Hollywood stars, so people that are diverse need someone to look up to,” sophomore Rabia Khan said. “If they’re all white, they won’t have much to look up to. They won’t have much representation for their race and culture.”

Even in a rare occasion where a show does have a diverse cast, they are stereotyped. There is always a super geeky Asian, or a sassy black woman. Latinos, which are the largest minority group in America, are often overly sexualized or portrayed as non-English speaking maids and gardeners, rather than wealthy, successful, and well-educated characters. Their characterization is defined by stereotypes about their race only for comedic purposes.

“I would say there is diversity in actors,” physics teacher Mr. David Long said. “But there isn’t diversity in the upper areas of Hollywood, such as producers and directors. For example, the academy is primarily white males. That is the old regime. There is diversity in actors; the problem is they aren’t being recognized.”

Another issue of diversity is whitewashing, when a white person is granted a role that should’ve been for a person of color. Whitewashing promotes the idea of white supremacy, and that European features and light skin are the epitome of beauty.

Disney is planning on creating a live-action version of the Disney animated film “Mulan.” A petition with over 20,000 signatures calls for Disney to avoid whitewashing in the casting of this movie.

“Whitewashing, the practice of casting white Caucasian actors and actresses in roles originally meant to be characters of colour, is all too common in Hollywood,” children’s librarian Natalie Molnar, who started the petition, said. “The Last Airbender, Pan, the upcoming Ghost in the Shell adaptation, and many, many others have demonstrated this problem.”

For the second year in a row, the Academy has failed to represent minorities in their nominations for the 2016 Oscars. This was a shock to many, considering the numerous Oscar-worthy films featuring people of color that came out this year, such as “Creed,” “Straight Outta Compton,” “Tangerine,” “Beasts of No Nation,” and “Concussion.”

“Children won’t feel accepted when they’re blinded by a common ideal of skin color on screen,” sophomore Kara DeWeese said. “Their lives are strongly impacted by what they see in the media. So, if they don’t see diversity, how are they supposed to feel accepted?”

At the 67th Emmy awards, Viola Davis, who is the leading actress in “How to Get Away With Murder” became the first African-American actress to win an Emmy. The large amount of Oscar-worthy films featuring people of color also shows that media is slowly beginning to incorporate more positive representation in Hollywood. Hopefully, if the amount of ethnic and racial diversity in media continues to increase, children will soon be able to see themselves in their favorite heroes and role models on the big screen.