Diversity in Literature & Media (WAS book differences)

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 40619

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., golden faile <golden_faile at y...> wrote:
> 
> --- cindysphynx <cindysphynx at c...> wrote:
> > Liz wrote (addressing why Dean Thomas is described
> > as black):
> > 
> > > It's called PC - politically correct - and it's
> > the reason American
> > > books and tv shows tend to be not so great. 
> > 
> > Hmmm.  To tell you the truth, I'm having a hard time
> > following you, 
> > Liz.   I hope you'll allow me to probe a few of your
> > statements 
> > here, just to make sure that I fully understand the
> > implications of 
> > what you are saying.
> > 
> > I do not understand why JKR should *not* describe
> > Dean Thomas as 
> > black.  She frequently describes the physical
> > attributes of her 
> > characters, either directly (hair color, eye color,
> > height, etc.) or 
> > indirectly (describing a character as flushing or
> > growing pale, 
> > which indicate a skin color consisistent with those
> > observations).  
> > Liz, is a description of Dean Thomas as black
> > somehow different in 
> > your eyes?
> > 
> > Okay, I've stayed quiet long enough. I do see what
> Liz is saying to a certain extent. However, as a black
> person, when someone describes me, they usually will
> describe me as a black female, my name doesn't tend to
> give away any information about me, so this is part of
> my description. By and large I have to agree with
> Cindy. Why is this such a big deal? I could see if it
> somehow ruined the story, but didn't you enjoy the
> book just as much? As for me, I think it's great that
> the wizarding world is a diverse place. I would have
> read the books regardless, but learning that it was,
> just made my reading experience that much better.
> So... if you were picturing the wizarding world as a
> diverse place, that little line should not have
> bothered you at all(IMO).
> 
> Laila
> 


First, the inclusion SHOULD have been handled better.

But again, no one has presented any evidence, and Cindy has 
essentially dared someone to do so, that this change was made against 
JKR's will. 

But this notion of political correctness somehow ruining American 
entertainment is frankly wrong, especially when you consider two of 
the most popular shows in recent American TV history -- Seinfeld and 
Friends -- are as white as the driven snow.

But, back to the books.

I'm also not sure why this is such a big deal, especially considering 
how race has been handled in the other stories. We have three black 
characters that we know about -- Dean, Lee Jordan and Angelina. 

These kids don't do anything stereotypical. The girl is an athlete, 
but she dates a white kid with no apparent self-consciousness.

There are no Black Power protests. There are no speeches about how 
the Wizards of the 17th and 18th century dealt with the Muggle slaves 
who showed magical talent. No rap music. A big deal has been made 
about their names not "sounding black" but what would the reaction 
have been had Dean become DeAndre? or Lee become LeBron? or Angelina 
been Aiesha? My guess is the hue and cry would have been worse.

So, the problem, apparently, is that one sentence, where we find out 
Dean is a black kid. Just his very existence is a problem, apparently.

I work for a newspaper and one hot summer day, one of our 
photographers took a picture of a some black kids playing under a 
sprinkler in someone's yard. Cute picture. Made the front page on a 
slow news day.

My editor got yelled at by one of the townspeople for "putting it in 
our face."

Exactly what was in his face? Or, as has been USED in this 
thread "rammed down our throats."

Apparently, the existence of black people. That's what this boils 
down to. 

Do you want to know if a black kid attends Hogwarts? 

If you "knew" already, great, more power to you.

But if you're so enlightened as to know already, then why would it 
bother you to have it acknowledged?


Darrin