#it can't possibly be that there's more to 'racism' than just ethnicity-based prejudice

[khaleesiofalicante]

You know, what I don't get about stereotypes is that, why people always start complaining as soon as they see them? 🤔 Like, I mean I know it's not good to see people use them repeatedly, but, why can't there be even one character who matches the stereotypes? There ARE people who are like that in real life! For example, one if my friends is gay and he's absolutely shiny and colorful and likes to do make up, etc, but I've seen that as soon as a writer writes such a character, everyone starts complaining and talking shit about them

Or like, I'm a person of color myself, and I've seen lots of bad people in real life who are from my country, like, our skin color doesn't affect our personality! Bad people are everywhere, just like compassionate ones. And I mean it would be one thing if someone's story villains were all poc, I agree that would be racist, but again, what I don't get is that, why people can never see a poc villain? 🤔 Like, isn't that kinda racist too? 🤔 I remember no one caring about Sebastian, or Valentine or Zara's personality (the actual villains!) But as soon as Alastair (who was just a hurt kid, really, he wasn't bad at heart) appeared everyone went mad that why is he brown or CC is being racist, etc. And I was like... But there ARE bad people in my class! I n my school! We're brown too, so...??? And I say, if it happened repeatedly ( I mean CC casting poc as villains) I'd get it but why now? Sorry, I'm just so confused 😕

I think your confusion is valid.

This is a question that can have many answers - depending on the responder's own identity.

Here are my two cents.

I completely agree that it is possible for poc to be 'bad' and thus poc playing villain roles is not an issue. However, it must be addressed that in media (especially Hollywood and western media) poc are often fetishised or stereotyped as villains (especially asian or Middle Eastern individuals) which further reinforces the existing prejudices against their identities. So, I can understand the criticism towards poc being cast as villains. I think the criticism here is valid during different contexts:

1. When it happens repeatedly (as you mentioned)

2. When the villain's 'evilness' is based on his ethnicity/religion/race than his personality. For example, making the villain seem bad not because he is a bad person but because he is muslim or Chinese etc.

NOW -

Moving into this discourse in the tsc fandom, I am with you. I do not understand it either.

It's really disappointing to see people calling CC 'a racist' when she is one of the very few authors who is trying to be more inclusive in their writing.

Is the representation perfect? Not at all. Can it be improved? Most definitely.

But that does not make her a racist. Everytime someone calls her that it just makes me realise that these individuals have a very surface level understanding of what racism means - and how it is portrayed in media.

I don't think CC is racist for portraying Alastair in the way she did (or any other character). If there are any issues, I think that indicates poor judgement as a writer than her viewpoints on race. While Alastair was definitely problematic in the past, I don't think that's something that can/should be reduced to his race. Doing so is the definition of racism. I don't think CC did that. But I have seen some people in the fandom do it.

So, yeah.

I just think we need to be really careful of the language we use within and outside the fandom.

This discourse has been there in the fandom since TLH dropped. I do not know much about it because I don't see it being a constructive or insightful discussion. So, I've removed myself from it. If it is bothering you or affecting your experience in the fandom, I would advice you to do the same.

Take care x.