fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2287 ]

[ SECRET POST #2287 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2287 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 04 pages, 084 secrets from Secret Submission Post #327.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 1 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

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14. http://i.imgur.com/EPo3uJH.jpg

Ugh, that sucks that you get that response from people. That's something that really bothers me about period dramas too, like Mad Men. I can't believe that they waited until the last season to finally write some African-American characters when it's like 1967 and there were actual black ad executives years before that in actuality

Well, there were some black characters but never part of the main cast. I think it's because we're seeing society very much through the eyes of 'old school' New Yorkers. The few times they had black characters earlier in the show where B-plots for the main cast - like the episode in which Paul Kinsey had a black girlfriend and wanted to mention it to EVERYONE to show how progressive he was.

tldr yeah, they could have made more of an effort.

As a black fan of Mad Men, I am perfectly fine with there being no major black characters until now... sorta. These are a bunch of conservative men we're talking about. They aren't progressive thinkers. And they're in the ninteen-fucking-sixties! They didn't want any black people around! The show reflects reality, whether you like it or not. If Mad Men were set in the modern era, I might be pissed about that but it isn't.

I want black folks in everything too but sometimes, just sometimes, you have to put the SJWing aside for realism.

BTW, I assume you two above me are white and young. I appreciate your support but, damn it, learn your history. If you're not-white and especially if you're black, REALLY LEARN YOUR HISTORY. ACCEPT YOUR HISTORY. Don't dwell on it, LAUNCH from it.

Welcome to the internet I'm afraid. Black people did not suddenly spring into existence during slavery, or the civil rights era.

I find it hard to believe that with all the people complaining about black people not being represented in fandom, your stories get that much flack. Are you writing black people with fried chicken and watermelon in every scene? Are you making a point of them being black black black black HEY THIS GUY IS BLACK OKAY black? I just don't believe you.

Maybe it's just me, but I'm pretty the group complaining about lack of representation and the group asking "why is this character black?" aren't the same group. It's not as though fandom is a monolith when it comes to ideas or ideologies.

Just a thought.

Indeed, this.

Considering how when people people complain about the lack of representation, the standard response is a pushback of people accusing the complainer of being a SJW and asking why characters have to be black/gay/disable/women/whatever, I don't know how it could be that unbelievable.

New Anon.

Personally, I'd be very annoyed if somebody came and started asking me why this character is Y not Z: my characters tend to be born (mostly) fully formed and no matter how much you'll insist, I cannot change them. They won't let me.

Or even if they would let me change them, then I'd have to completely rewrite the story. It's not necessarily a bad thing, I know, however often I set out to tell a certain story and that just will.not.work. with your changes.

The obvious answer to that question is, "Why not?" Throw the ball back in their court and make them flustered for an answer.

Because really, "why not?"

^ this. Exactly. This is what I came here to say.

I hope you can hold your ground and your inspiration against idiots who say shit like that to you

*applauds you*

I've never understood the "It's not historically accurate!" argument that people use. A lot of the ideas we have about certain places and time periods and how there were ~no black people~ is a result of the lack of representation in the media in the first place.

If we wanted to go back to a time when there were no black people, we'd have to go back to a time before humans, seeing as the earliest humans (as far as scientists can tell) evolved in Africa. And then after that came Asians. Then I think Caucasians and Native Americans came about at the same time (I'm not that up-to-date on my prehistory). It's less historically accurate to have all the characters be white than it is for none of the characters to be white.

Untrue as far as historical accuracy goes, unless you're story is taking place *in* pre-history [in a non-european country.]

Some reporter: Why do you write these strong female characters?

Joss Whedon: Because you’re still asking me that question.

Replace "female" with "colored," "queer," "disabled," etc.

Joss Whedon should stop pretending to be a feminist. He isn't.

Can I ask why? I'm honestly not too familiar with the man.

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Well, that blows. I wish I could say that I was surprised, but I'm really not. I hope your writing manages to get published (if it's not already), and I'd personally love to see more historical fiction with black leads.

Reminds me of the time coworkers were discussing 'The Help', and I mentioned I was kind of disappointing that the main character was not one of the black women the book is supposed to be about.
I got stares.

I can kind of see why people would ask that, at least if they're from the US, because well...unless it's Civil Rights or slavery, blacks just aren't mentioned very often in historical discussions, and actually, anyone outside of rich and white usually isn't talked about all that often.

So, when someone who doesn't fit into that group is cast as the lead people tend to be a little confused...which is a shame. There could be some very interesting stories told, doubly so because of the different perspectives.

I'm really sorry OP. :( I'm worried that the story I'm writing about which has a black protagonist is going to get the same treatment. But seriously fuck them, write what you want to read. :)

Don't let that detour you because it starts to get really tiring seeing the same old rich upper/middle class white men/women in fancy dresses.

It reaaaaaally does

GO YOU! Please write more stories about black people. Anyone who complains can shut the fuck up and go to stupidity-jail.

Here's my question: are you black? I assume you aren't because I doubt people would ask that if they knew you in person. If they only know you over the internet then there's that white assumption stuff (I do it too but it's unfortunate that I do.) Anyway, if you're not black, just be careful about stereotypes and what-not. Hell, be careful of that stuff if you ARE black.

But, more importantly, focus on the story. It's great that the characters are black but that's secondary, even tertiary to the story overall. Story > Social Justice.

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