Do you think it's ok to portray someone as a different race, ethnicity, or gender, in a true story with historical significance?

I’m sure you have heard of the musical Hamilton. There has been some controversy over the production specific looking for minority actors. The idea of representing the characters by many different ethnicities and races that varied from the actual figures in history seemed to be readily accepted, but when it was put out there that they exclusively wanted someone who was not caucasian to fill a spot, there was some backlash.

Aside from Hamilton, there have been arguments about actors darkening their skin for a part, that it borders on “black face” which is widely accepted as offensive.

Lastly, is it different when a white person is portrayed by a minority than if a minority is portrayed by a white personal or another minority?

I saw the movie Hidden Figures recently and I would not want the black women portrayed by anyone except women who come across as black women. It’s important to the historical significance of what those women did. Maybe one day it won’t matter, but for now it does to me.