Is this Straight Outta Compton casting call racist?

'These are African American girls. Poor, not in good shape.'

Ice Cube and Dr Dre will co-produce the biopic (Universal Pictures)

A casting call went out for the NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton yesterday, and after being posted online is getting considerable heat over how it categorises extras.

Posted by Sande Allesi Casting, the notice is looking for 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'D' girls, and though these are groups not rankings, does show clear associations, with the company looking for all colours when it comes to "the hottest of the hot" and specifically African American girls when it comes to the characters described as "poor, not in good shape".

It has polarised opinion online, with some declaring it "racist as hell" and accusing it of ranking women within a class structure, while others have noted that casting calls are by nature frank and specific about skin tone and suggested that we're too quick to cry "BLARGH RACISM!" on everything.

You can judge for yourself – here's the notice in full:

SAG OR NON UNION CASTING NOTICE FOR FEMALES-ALL ETHNICITIES- from the late 80's. Shoots on "Straight Outta Compton". Shoot date TBD. We are pulling photos for the director of featured extras. VERY IMPORTANT – You MUST live in the Los Angeles area (Orange County is fine too) to work on this show. DO NOT SUBMIT if you live out of the area. Nobody is going to be flying into LA to do extra work on this show - and don't tell me you are willing to fly in.

SAG OR NON UNION FEMALES - PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR SPECIFIC BREAKDOWN. DO NOT EMAIL IN FOR MORE THAN ONE CATEGORY:

A GIRLS: These are the hottest of the hottest. Models. MUST have real hair - no extensions, very classy looking, great bodies. You can be black, white, asian, hispanic, mid eastern, or mixed race too. Age 18-30. Please email a current color photo, your name, Union status, height/weight, age, city in which you live and phone number to: SandeAlessiCasting@gmail.com subject line should read: A GIRLS

B GIRLS: These are fine girls, long natural hair, really nice bodies. Small waists, nice hips. You should be light-skinned. Beyonce is a prototype here. Age 18-30. Please email a current color photo, your name, Union status, height/weight, age, city in which you live and phone number to: SandeAlessiCasting@gmail.com subject line should read: B GIRLS

C GIRLS: These are African American girls, medium to light skinned with a weave. Age 18-30. Please email a current color photo, your name, Union status, height/weight, age, city in which you live and phone number to: SandeAlessiCasting@gmail.com subject line should read: C GIRLS

D GIRLS: These are African American girls. Poor, not in good shape. Medium to dark skin tone. Character types. Age 18-30. Please email a current color photo, your name, Union status, height/weight, age, city in which you live and phone number to: SandeAlessiCasting@gmail.com subject line should read: D GIRLS

Straight Outta Compton has a scheduled release date of 14 August, 2015.