Literature White Culture Superheroes

[Error 420]

I want to forward this by saying that white people don't need a hero. There's a reason for Latin-x and Black heroes. I'm not saying that white people need them too.

So in comics and TV, there's quite a few heroes for Black and Latin cultures: Black Panther, Black Lightning, Power Man, Static Shock, White Panther, Miles Morales, and countless others. Sometimes they are amazing cultural icons that are a wonderful symbol for the cultures they stem from and excellent windows into that culture. Sometimes not. But regardless, let's take a trip down conceptual land to think of what a white culture superhero would be. This can be a joke or serious consideration, but please let's not make this a vehicle for a hate crime.

What do you think a perfect white superhero is like? Who could be a symbol for the *terrible opression* that white people face every day?

 

[Windsock]

Hi, Tumblr!

 

[Lindah]

I feel that white people do need heroes, particularly in South Africa, or where I live in.
Well actually, everyone needs heroes in their lives to look up to, regardless of ethnicity.
Wouldn't be equality if it doesn't work for everyone and anyone!
With that said...

idk, spongebob?
Probably Tony Stark.

 

[Imperator_tenebrae]

My initial reactions to the OP

Seriously I am getting so goddamned tired of this "whitey doesn't need heroes because he got privilege" bullshit.

 

[Axel The Englishman]

what even

 

[Error 420]

I feel that white people do need heroes, particularly in South Africa, or where I live in.
Well actually, everyone needs heroes in their lives to look up to, regardless of ethnicity.
Wouldn't be equality if it doesn't work for everyone and anyone!

In the OP, I was referring to the US and Northern European countries with a white majority and historic racism against other races. I had however was not considering countries in which this was not the case, largely because this was 3 a.m.

To the other posts, yes, I do believe that white privilege is a real thing. I never meant that white people don't need heroes (although that is my exact wording in the post and I apologize for that), I simply meant that in places like America, there don't need to be an ethnic representative for white culture.

Characters like Power Man or White Tiger stem from a culture in which one feels like they have no power because of their ethnicity. Of course, everyone feels like they have no power, but these characters connect on a deeper level with their respective ethnicities because they are powerful because of their ethnicity, not regardless of it.

Poor people still love the life of Batman, and anybody can identify with heroes who stand for anybody like Spiderman or Superman. I get the point. This was a poorly worded OP.

 

[Lindah]

Power Man, White Tiger- oh darn.

I never really made the connection, not until now actually! Those, I googled just now, and the results shocked me. I didn't think much of them except that they were darn cool as a kid, and it's probably only because of diving too deep into the internet, that I just now made the connection, that those characters were coloured. It came as shocking to me, because I never really thought that deep into so, and never really did until I came into the online world. Before that, even at like 14 years old, I never saw race, not until I got introduced to the web. Not sheltered at all of course, I live in a melting pot too.

Why is why I'm suddenly a firm believer that racism quite still exist, at least to the extent and level that it is even in today's modern world, is due to the media, social media, terrible influences that replaced the racist family with an online community. How lots of people still write about privilege this privilege that, slavery never forget, etc...

This might seem meaningful and progressive for young people, for the adults, but not children. They absorb plenty of such influence, and it seems to be even worse now due to internet connection. But then again lots of things arose alongside the internet!!

Either way, I feel that the true way to end racism, perhaps even within this century! Is to cease making it a bigger deal than it is, responding fire with fire... Or maybe these words from Morgan Freeman:

​

 

[Hall Kervean]

Ok.
Superman was created by two white people because they were bullied as children, and they wanted to create a hero to defend themselves from those bullies.
Question asked, question answered.
Who wants tacos?

 

[Axel The Englishman]

Gimme dat Mexican goodness before that wall blocks it out.

 

[The Gunrunner]

I got a few concepts

INTERSECTIONALITY MAN! Bravely fighting for the equity and equality of all those oppressed despite being white, dealing with the various forms of oppression with his unfathomable power: A gender studies degree(?)

Nationalism boy: An anti-hero, beloved for stifling Russian imperialism, Chinese... whatever they're doing, and terrorism. Though more than occasionally racist and an annoying promoter of his country as the best of the best, he is indispensable for his special power: An ak-47 and direct line to the airforce.

But who could forget

Anti-feminism person! With the power of headphones, screened glasses, and a looping recording of Milo Yiannopolous, he's able to oppose feminism in all its forms. Angrily ranting on the internet, he can tell others how he feels about the topics promoted while only occasionally not knowing what they actually are!

A+?

 

[Cinderlily]

I've always firmly believed that EVERYONE regardless of race, gender, sexuality, age, etc goes through struggles and need people/icons to look up to. Everyone is deserving of recognition and representation. We have a duty as human beings to stand with one another, to support each other even though we may be different. I'm a huge superhero fan and I will not be shamed for being a white female who loves Batman... honestly I love Miss Marvel (Kamala Kahn) just as much too and none of it has anything to do with their race. Frankly they're both kick ass and stand up for the little man, being bullied for most of my life that really appeals to me. We all go through hardships and I don't believe in belittling anyones struggles. Superheroes, of all types of life, are for everyone. They represent us all.

 

[Error 420]

I've always firmly believed that EVERYONE regardless of race, gender, sexuality, age, etc goes through struggles and need people/icons to look up to. Everyone is deserving of recognition and representation. We have a duty as human beings to stand with one another, to support each other even though we may be different. I'm a huge superhero fan and I will not be shamed for being a white female who loves Batman... honestly I love Miss Marvel (Kamala Kahn) just as much too and none of it has anything to do with their race. Frankly they're both kick ass and stand up for the little man, being bullied for most of my life that really appeals to me. We all go through hardships and I don't believe in belittling anyones struggles. Superheroes, of all types of life, are for everyone. They represent us all.

That's what I meant by my second post. But different characters are written for different people.

 

[TheRockInception]

How can I apologize for the actions of my ancestors if they were poor and humble immigrants of the early 20th century and did nothing wrong

 

[Lunar]

In my eyes there is no race, everyone is human (as Morgan Freeman worded better.)
In saying that, I don't see "White" as a race, I don't see "Black" as a race, I see Humans as a race. Blaming an entire skin color and group of people for events that happened before any of us were even alive, is what I would consider ridiculous. Saying a certain race shouldn't have a hero or should have guilt for things evil and terrible humans in the past have done, is ridiculous. Every single "race" has done evil and wicked things in the past, morals were different then. An example: Slavery has been a concept since the beginning of all civilization, originating in africa, and shouldn't be blamed on a single race. The Portugese, Spanish, French, British, all of these people were in the slave trade, most of the entire world is guilty of slavery, why should one group of people be put under fire for it? Regardless, morals are different today, there shouldn't be guilt for what OUR ancestors did, we move forward and learn from the past, I have no guilt for the past because of where we are today, I have morals, I look down upon all of the wicked humans that condoned slavery, I do not feel guilt for being the same skin color of those people. That would be absurd. (Also talking about the terrible way the people of the past treated the Natives, I look down upon, but again, I am not a part of those people. I am a human being with a light skin color, what difference does skin color make? I'd say blaming anyone "White" for all of those things would be considered racist."

I understand that wasnt what you were meaning to say in the OP, I just making a point of where I think all people should stand to end this nonsense. Racism ends when people stop splitting up ONE race into many others. We are all humans.

 

[SirBlazeALot]

In my eyes there is no race, everyone is human (as Morgan Freeman worded better.)
In saying that, I don't see "White" as a race, I don't see "Black" as a race, I see Humans as a race. Blaming an entire skin color and group of people for events that happened before any of us were even alive, is what I would consider ridiculous. Saying a certain race shouldn't have a hero or should have guilt for things evil and terrible humans in the past have done, is ridiculous. Every single "race" has done evil and wicked things in the past, morals were different then. An example: Slavery has been a concept since the beginning of all civilization, originating in africa, and shouldn't be blamed on a single race. The Portugese, Spanish, French, British, all of these people were in the slave trade, most of the entire world is guilty of slavery, why should one group of people be put under fire for it? Regardless, morals are different today, there shouldn't be guilt for what OUR ancestors did, we move forward and learn from the past, I have no guilt for the past because of where we are today, I have morals, I look down upon all of the wicked humans that condoned slavery, I do not feel guilt for being the same skin color of those people. That would be absurd. (Also talking about the terrible way the people of the past treated the Natives, I look down upon, but again, I am not a part of those people. I am a human being with a light skin color, what difference does skin color make? I'd say blaming anyone "White" for all of those things would be considered racist."

I understand that wasnt what you were meaning to say in the OP, I just making a point of where I think all people should stand to end this nonsense. Racism ends when people stop splitting up ONE race into many others. We are all humans.

This position is well meaning but it's way too idealistic. Whether we like it or not the concept of race is here to stay for the foreseeable future and it does have an effect on our lives. Pretending it doesn't exist is living in a fantasy world.

 

[Cinderlily]

This position is well meaning but it's way too idealistic. Whether we like it or not the concept of race is here to stay for the foreseeable future and it does have an effect on our lives. Pretending it doesn't exist is living in a fantasy world.

Doesn't it start with us, as a generation, then to put an end to racism? I'm not saying pretend it doesn't exist just don't let it dictate our actions. It is up to us to stop discriminating against each other. I find that the Black Eyed Peas say it best "If you only love your own race then you only leave space to discriminate and to discriminate only generates hate."

 

[SirBlazeALot]

Doesn't it start with us, as a generation, then to put an end to racism? I'm not saying pretend it doesn't exist just don't let it dictate our actions. It is up to us to stop discriminating against each other. I find that the Black Eyed Peas say it best "If you only love your own race then you only leave space to discriminate and to discriminate only generates hate."

It doesn't start with us. It continues with us. Previous generations have been trying to end racism. Racism isn't something that one generation is going to be able to handle.

 

[Lunar]

It doesn't start with us. It continues with us. Previous generations have been trying to end racism. Racism isn't something that one generation is going to be able to handle.

I agree, but continuing this by blaiming a single race is counter productive, my view may be a fantasy but in order to end racism, we all need to love one another, not blame one another, all humans are equal, regaredless of skin. White or Black, it does not matter, morals matter.

 

[SirBlazeALot]

I agree, but continuing this by blaiming a single race is counter productive, my view may be a fantasy but in order to end racism, we all need to love one another, not blame one another, all humans are equal, regaredless of skin. White or Black, it does not matter, morals matter.

I respectfully disagree. I'm not saying blame white people for racism or that all people aren't created equally or that morals don't matter. I know that white people are tired of being blamed for the transatlantic slave trade and the genocide of Native Americans, and I agree it isn't fair to blame people who had nothing to do with those horrible events in history. I'm not saying white people don't need heroes. Actually I am. I think the concept of a race or a sex or whatever having a hero to represent them is dumb. If the purpose of heroes is to empower then any hero should be empowering to anyone so long as they're a compelling character.

I just don't think it's as easy as loving one another. People have trouble loving themselves, let alone strangers. I think it's unreasonable to ask someone to love everyone. I have trouble finding love and tolerance in my heart for silly but harmless people like otherkin or downright malicious people like pedophiles.

We haven't progressed as far as we have in regards to racial equality by ignoring racism, we progressed by tackling it and punching it in the face, metaphorically speaking of course. If we try to ignore it now then racists are just going to fly under the radar. It's even easier for them to do so in present day because racists have a road map for covering up their racism in the form of politically correct culture. We only recognize a racist when they let the n-word or some other slur slip at the wrong time. We think racists wear white hoods and burn crosses on black peoples' lawns when they've long since moved on to wearing business suits and antagonizing young men of color in police uniforms. We think that racists are always racist, when in reality they're only racist when they know they won't be caught. I believe in knowing the enemy and treating all human beings with respect until they prove themselves unworthy.

That also means don't flip a table over every "microaggression" or everytime a white actor plays a character of color in a marvel movie or a black actor plays a white one. People need to chill out with petty shit.

 

[Cinderlily]

I agree, but continuing this by blaiming a single race is counter productive, my view may be a fantasy but in order to end racism, we all need to love one another, not blame one another, all humans are equal, regaredless of skin. White or Black, it does not matter, morals matter.

Agreed. I, unfortunately, cannot do anything about what my ancestors did. Growing up a white girl in South Africa I've had Apartheid hanging over my head like a dark cloud. Despite being born after it's abolishment I share the blame by default because of the colour of my skin. I feel guilty everyday because of something I had no part in, nor would have wanted any part in. I'm fortunate enough to come from a tolerant household, my family never cared much for Apartheid and we're all glad it's over. To this day we're all paying for something most of us had no part in. I think to end racism this blame game the world has going on must be put to an end. And I guess a bit of belief that we can make a difference is also needed. I'm trying to make up for the transgressions of my ancestors and I believe with help that someday things will change.

 

[Cinderlily]

It doesn't start with us. It continues with us. Previous generations have been trying to end racism. Racism isn't something that one generation is going to be able to handle.

Maybe not for us but if we start now then our children or our children's children might grow up in a less fucked up society.

 

[Lunar]

I respectfully disagree. I'm not saying blame white people for racism or that all people aren't created equally or that morals don't matter. I know that white people are tired of being blamed for the transatlantic slave trade and the genocide of Native Americans, and I agree it isn't fair to blame people who had nothing to do with those horrible events in history. I'm not saying white people don't need heroes. Actually I am. I think the concept of a race or a sex or whatever having a hero to represent them is dumb. If the purpose of heroes is to empower then any hero should be empowering to anyone so long as they're a compelling character.

I actually agree with you completely, I'm not that good at explaining how I view things ^^
My views of love is very ideological and unrealistic but I was meaning in an ideal world, racism will probably never go away for some people and that is sad to think about. Hating someone for their skin or ethnicity boils my blood.

 

[SirBlazeALot]

Maybe not for us but if we start now then our children or our children's children might grow up in a less fucked up society.

That's the idea. Previous generations did it for us and we gotta carry the torch.

 

[Cinderlily]

I actually agree with you completely, I'm not that good at explaining how I view things ^^
My views of love is very ideological and unrealistic but I was meaning in an ideal world, racism will probably never go away for some people and that is sad to think about. Hating someone for their skin or ethnicity boils my blood.

I feel like the world needs more people like you , idealists. I'll admit to being a pessimist myself but I could stand to learn a thing or two about ideology, lol.

 

[Cinderlily]

That's the idea. Previous generations did it for us and we gotta carry the torch.

That's what it feels like, doesn't it?
I just heaved a heavy sigh.
I will admit to feeling trapped. I have no idea how to make things better. I just put out positivity (try to at least) and hope for the best. It also helps that there's people like you guys as well that are also fighting for the end of discrimination.