Congratulations to the brother Barkhad. He should take every single role who cares if they type cast him. He's an inspiration for young somali actors that look up to him and say if he can do why can't I. He's a success story that we should celebrate.
I never seen or met Somalis that self-identify as black just because there is a lack of African actors. Somalis don't have that chip on their shoulders. They aren't consumed with race.
Now let us watch....the Somali Liam Neeson
Exactly! Struggling actors don't have the luxury to pick and choose what role they will play in a movie. At this stage of their lives, the thing uppermost in their mind, is to first get their feet into the door. More 'dignified' roles will come along later in their career, that is if they prove talented enough to have a second shot at acting.
Many big time Hollywood actors have begun their career by playing minor, often 'demeaning' roles. Morgan Freeman, (arguably one of the most talented actor the movie industry ever produced) do you know what his first major role was? Driving Mrs. Daisy! He played a servile, docile negro chauffeur for a mean, old, aristocratic, slave-owning Mistress, played by the late Jessica Candy. He played his role so flawlessly that it earned him his first Academy Award. Now, Do you think, Morgan Freeman should have declined the role because he deemed it 'stereotypical' of the negro race? Of course not. It is the same with our few Skinny actors. They should never discriminate when it comes what role to play in a movie, be it a gun-toting, emaciated pirate with rotten teeth, doing his thing in the high seas, or even a self-igniting terrorist blowing himself up in crowded market on behalf of ISIS.
