I know, I know, it really shouldn't matter -- except that nearly all protagonists fit the mold of John Carter of Mars. White Anglo-Saxon Protestant males prevail in nearly all fiction. In teen fiction, especially fantasy, there's a whole lotta red-headed girls and handsome young (White) boys. Now, yes, a lot of the fantasy is based on Celtic legend, but you know, there's more to the world than Ireland. No cap on Ireland, I enjoy a good epic or urban fantasy as well as the next fan. But there's a whole world out there, why does darn near every story have to focus on one little island?
And then there's the ongoing idiocy in our world. Color doesn't matter? REALLY? Then why is there all this drama about darling little Gabby Douglas, Olympic gold medal winner, and her hair. Her hair? Are you kidding me? This brilliant young gymnast, with a smile that catches you and makes you smile too, the first African American to take the gold in gymnastics, and people are worried about her HAIR? Hello, she's BLACK! Her hair has a different texture, it's been relaxed and it's not going to be the same as some little blonde's fine, wispy do. It's just not. Get real!
Look, if people are having drama about an outstanding Olympic athlete's hair, then we still have a problem. And yes, I'm sad to say that some who've been most critical are Black.
Science fiction and fantasy can look past all the drama of today, bringing our kids exciting stories with good role models -- heroes and heroines that break today's cast-in-stupidity molds and sweep the reader into a future where diversity (and hair) is accepted as normal and natural.
That's just one reason why it's so important to have protagonists of Color. Not the wingman, not the sidekick, not the secondary characters -- I'm talking about the main characters. I want my kid to enjoy rip-roaring sci-fi novels, envisioning himself as that young Black/Mexican/Welsh/Italian/Native American hero that's busting those bad guys' behinds and saving the Universe!
And then there's the ongoing idiocy in our world. Color doesn't matter? REALLY? Then why is there all this drama about darling little Gabby Douglas, Olympic gold medal winner, and her hair. Her hair? Are you kidding me? This brilliant young gymnast, with a smile that catches you and makes you smile too, the first African American to take the gold in gymnastics, and people are worried about her HAIR? Hello, she's BLACK! Her hair has a different texture, it's been relaxed and it's not going to be the same as some little blonde's fine, wispy do. It's just not. Get real!
Look, if people are having drama about an outstanding Olympic athlete's hair, then we still have a problem. And yes, I'm sad to say that some who've been most critical are Black.
Science fiction and fantasy can look past all the drama of today, bringing our kids exciting stories with good role models -- heroes and heroines that break today's cast-in-stupidity molds and sweep the reader into a future where diversity (and hair) is accepted as normal and natural.
That's just one reason why it's so important to have protagonists of Color. Not the wingman, not the sidekick, not the secondary characters -- I'm talking about the main characters. I want my kid to enjoy rip-roaring sci-fi novels, envisioning himself as that young Black/Mexican/Welsh/Italian/Native American hero that's busting those bad guys' behinds and saving the Universe!
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