; Credit: Richard Chambury/Richard Chambury/Invision/AP

Few would deny that the late Nina Simone was gifted and black.

And so, when directors of an upcoming biopic about Simone announced in 2012 that actress Zoe Saldana would have the lead, fans of the singer were a bit concerned; Saldana is Puerto Rican and Dominican, several shades lighter than Nina Simone, and her features less pronounced.

Earlier this week, a trailer was released, and fans were given a taste of the film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3EWygLE_No

Reaction from black bloggers and commentators in the Twittersphere have been overwhelmingly negative. 

https://twitter.com/LipzOnACone/status/705767746127192065

https://twitter.com/April_Davis/status/705197945986088961

Even Nina Simone’s estate served up some cold shade against Saldana. 

The exchange elicited this fitting response by one Tweeter:

.@NinaSimoneMusic @zoesaldana pic.twitter.com/uT78kPsBHn

— Black Girl Nerds (@BlackGirlNerds) March 3, 2016

Why did Saldana’s appearance cause a social media upset? Possibly because it struck a long-sensitive nerve in the African-American community, and revived conversations around a word that’s all-too-familiar in the black community: colorism. 

For an in-depth look at the casting process, colorism and reaction to the new trailer, Take Two turns to two guests:

• Anne-Marie Johnson, actress
• Danielle Young, Social Content Producer at the Root