What?? An A-list Black Actress Playing a Major Black Figure??
The criticism is NONSENSE. Zoe Saldana is a wonderful actress who happens to be lighter than Nina Simone, and (what!?) happens to not look exactly like Simone (so, of course, they shouldn't have made the movie with her??). She's good enough an actress to do the role justice and is appropriate for the role. People getting upset about "lightwashing" is just completely absurd.
It's one thing to be up in arms about an all-White list of nominees for the Academy Awards major categories *two consecutive years running*. It's another entirely to try to bash a Black actress for actually playing a Black person who happens to be darker than the actress is. What?? Lupita Nyong'o wasn't available, so they shouldn't have made the movie? Some other less well-known actress who looked more like Simone should have been cast? Right. And the movie might never have gotten made, or not get the notice it will with Saldana opening it. Even with Saldana's participation, it might not have gotten made or received proper notice (such is Hollywood, still).
And this criticism of her being cast suggests she's gotten roles not because of her obvious talent, but mainly because she is a light-skinned Black person. Perhaps it was possible to have made that argument at the very beginning of her career, but it is clear that argument holds no water now. It's insulting and patently untrue, as demonstrated by her performances in "Colombiana," the Star Trek movies, and various others. It's just utterly ridiculous, not credible, and cannot be countenanced.
People are upset about Idris Elba playing a character who actually is White (in Stephen King's "The Dark Tower" series, now being made into a movie series). Their disapproval is understandable, even reasonable, but Elba is an excellent actor, AND Stephen King himself has given his approval to Elba being cast in the role. People were bent out of shape over a blonde Bond. Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher. Even the manner in which Martin Luther King, Jr. was depicted in "Selma" (despite David Oyelowo actually looking like King!). Fundamental to all these kerfuffles is creative vision. The people making the movie have the right (yes, the right) to make the movie they want to make. Whether we like it or not, pay to see it or not, or even picket it or what have you doesn't in any way prohibit them from making the movie they want to make. This is what's called FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. I dare say Nina Simone herself would have concurred with their right to do so, even if she herself disapproved of the movie.
For the record, Zoe Saldana cannot be faulted for playing this role. She is an A-list actress who will do what she can and what she must to produce an excellent performance. Anyone who suggests she can't or wouldn't will need to substantiate that position by first seeing her play the role, then presenting their logical points for why she didn't or couldn't. I think it's safe to say no such argument will be presented, and anyone who does present such an argument might be guilty of slander or libel.
Ms. Saldana, you keep on quoting Simone and anyone else you like, and don't let ANYBODY browbeat you, freak you, or put fear in your heart over DOING YOUR JOB the best you know how to do it. Folks like your critics on this won't be satisfied until someone clones the person, teaches the person how to be an actor, then gains final approval from the family or some such authority for the production. The world doesn't revolve around them, thankfully, and good riddance.