The trailer had long been awaited by fans, and here at last it was in the cinema. For two and a half minutes they were able to feast their eyes on scenes from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. There were the usual ingredients - spaceships whizzing through the sky, ranks of armoured troopers. But there was also a very unusual one: a young Black British actor in one of the lead roles.

For 23-year-old John Boyega, this was his breakthrough to international stardom. In that same year, 2015, he won BAFTAAn award given at the British Academy Film Awards ceremony. 's Rising Star Award.

He would go on to make two more Star Wars films, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. In 2020 he won a Golden Globe AwardAn award for excellence in American and international film and television. for his role in the TV series Small Axe. Now he is impressing audiences again in the movies Breaking and The Woman King.

But he is also in the headlines for another reason. In a recent interview, he told GQ: "I only date Black."

The remark met with instant criticism. No White actor, it was claimed, could get away with saying that he only dated White women. But Boyega refused to elaborate, saying: "My preference is not a topic for debate."

Those who defend him point to a speech he gave at a Black Lives MatterA political movement which aims to challenge police brutality and racism towards black people all across the world, usually using protests and other means of activism. rally in London in 2020, nine days after the death of George FloydAn African-American man who died in Minneapolis in May 2020 when a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.. It included an impassioned plea:

"Black men," he said in a voice choked with emotion, "we need to take care of our Black women... They are our hearts, they are our future. We cannot demonise our own. We are the pillars of the family.

"Imagine this: a nation that is set up with individual families that are thriving, that are healthy, that communicate, that raise their children in love. That's what we need to create. Black men, it starts with you... We can all join together to make this a better world."

It could have been a sermon by his father, who is a PentecostalA Christian movement emphasising baptism in the Holy Spirit. minister. Boyega credits his parents Samson and Abigail, happily married for 35 years, for giving him a stable and inspiring start to life.

Boyega was just nine when he started learning to be an actor, after being spotted by someone from a local theatre in Peckham in London. At 17, he made his debut at the National TheatreA theatre group based in London., and two years later starred in his first film, Attack the Block. 

But it was not all plain sailing. Boyega was a friend of Damilola TaylorA 10-year-old boy who was stabbed and killed in London in 2000., and one of the last people to see the 10-year-old alive before his murder in 2000.

Boyega received racist abuse after being cast in the Star Wars films, and later claimed that the character he played would have been given more prominence but for the colour of his skin. He has since supported projects to help actors and filmmakers from ethnic minorities.¹

His position on dating may simply be a way of showing respect for Black women. But others say his statement was outrageous. If he stands by it, the debate is unlikely to die down anytime soon.

Yes: If we are ever to achieve a harmonious society, we need to be open to meeting, befriending and dating all sorts of people. Boyega is setting a terrible example.

No: He is simply being honest, and respectful to Black women. He is looking for someone whose life experience is similar to his. The criticism went too far.

Or... Love is blind, and those who set out to marry a particular type of person rarely do so in the end. There is a good chance that Boyega will not follow his words.

BAFTA - An award given at the British Academy Film Awards ceremony.

Golden Globe Award - An award for excellence in American and international film and television.

Black Lives Matter - A political movement which aims to challenge police brutality and racism towards black people all across the world, usually using protests and other means of activism.

George Floyd - An African-American man who died in Minneapolis in May 2020 when a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.

Pentecostal - A Christian movement emphasising baptism in the Holy Spirit.

National Theatre - A theatre group based in London.

Damilola Taylor - A 10-year-old boy who was stabbed and killed in London in 2000.