****** tactics from casting agent

<p>Yesterday i took my son to a casting for Jet at Edcon. when the advert was sent to me there were no specifics only that they wanted children of a certain age group. So i took time out of work to drive there with my petrol to take my 3 year old. When we got there the Casting agent took 1 look at a few kids and declined them due to various reasons (they were too small etc) i could not understand though because the brief was clear about the age specifics. Funny enough when she got to out side of the Queue i could actuallt hear what she was saying to people . People were rejected because their kids were too chubby or petite , or that they did not have what it takes according to her perception . my problem was that she gave a ticket to a lady infront of me but she had not even seen the child the lady was with. The child was in the bathroom at the time. When she got to me she told me that she was looking for black boys with an afro. I was so shocked i didnt even know what to say. My first sentiments were why do so called black boys have to be associated with afros. Have we not long passed the days of THE PENCIL TEST. (This test was used to determine racial identity in South Africa during the apartheid era, distinguishing whites from coloureds and blacks.) why was my child being told that as a black boy he was to have an afro to be suitable . Furthermore some kids parents were told that if your child was 3 and wore 4-5 that she didnt want them as the clothes were not going to fit them they were too big. Now i know Nelson Mandela did not go to jail for 27 years for me to be told that my child would be acceptable only if he has an afro. Lets talk about features and pysical appearance rather not some luducrous stereotype that small black boys should have afros. Who is this day and age allows a boy to have an afro..... our soul food days ended in 1994. Now u(Edcon) tell me that if a child is chubby or petite then as a buisness you will not put my child in your magazines yet you expect me to shop from your store. i want every parent to know what the people behind Jet (edcon) think about our kids. I want someone to contact me , give me a settlement amount and to close my account immediately because no child of mine without an afro will be wearing any of your clothes . if he wasnt black enough to be featured in your magazine then he sure aint black enough to be seen walking the streets in them either. I dont want to be associated with a brand that displays ****** on such a high level. </p>