Authentic representation is the superhero the world needs
[Music]
picture a superhero
you probably imagine a being with powers
beyond our realm of reality
power is too intangible to exist but so
real
in their ability to change the world for
the better
what if i told you power like that isn’t
just some fantasy prescribed to comic
books
movies and video games then instead
you have the power to bring stories
unheard of
untouched and unbelievable to millions
of people
i’ve been fascinated with the world of
comic book media since i was in diapers
every second of my childhood has been
set with comics cartoons
and video games like justice league
spectacular spider-man
and lego batman i looked up to heroes
for their ideals of truth and justice
their bravery their strength and their
ability to come out on top no matter the
circumstance
however by fifth grade my admiration for
them began to diminish
i’d come to realize that my heroes did
not share my complexion
my religion none of them walked talked
or acted like me
none of these heroes represented me
this is the same reality shared by
millions of children worldwide
people from historically
underrepresented communities often must
imagine themselves in narratives
that don’t include them and there’s a
historical precedent for this
in the late 1930s and early 40s the role
of
superhero was a job tailored exclusively
for white men
while other groups remain in the shadows
only to reappear as sidekicks
villains and caricatures when the
blockbuster movie shazam
hit theaters in 2019 people learn of the
amazing adventures of billy batson and
his alter ego
shazam but the dark history behind him
was shoved behind closed doors
you see in the 1940s billy batson had a
sidekick
steamboat steamboat encompasses
every negative stereotype of the
historic black american
he is illiterate unintelligent and drawn
as a sickening caricature
stereotyping of black heroes continued
well into the 70s
a prominent example is the first black
hero to receive their own title in
marvel comics
luke cage despite being a hero
cage encompassed certain negative
stereotypes of the modern
black american an ex-convict
a street hustler a macho hardhead
keeping these stereotypes memorialized
in movies and tv shows has
devastating effects on black and
minority communities
so imagine you’re reading stories to
tell you that you’re a criminal
a low life unintelligent and less of a
human being
and those same stories are being told to
people who aren’t familiar with you
your culture or your values
those same stories in turn have an
adverse effect
on your mental well-being and your and
your ability to maintain healthy
relationships
this perception is dangerous because
down the road this fear may lead to
violence
and undermine your right to equality
this is the reality shared by millions
of people worldwide who suffer from the
lack of accurate representation
in the media they consume especially in
comics
two decades have passed since my
childhood realization and in that time
i’ve come to realize that there’s been
substantial advancement
in the corporation of authentic heroes
from underrepresented communities
take miles morales for example miles is
half african american
half puerto rican and all spider-man
went into the spider-verse hit theaters
in 2018 and struck a core with many
viewers like myself
for the first time in my life i was able
to relate and connect to a superhero
on a personal level miles was an
ordinary high school boy like i was at
the time
in the opening sequence myles sits at
his desk music
blaring in his earbuds he lets himself
go
while dueling on his schoolwork and
getting into his own little world
i felt like i’ve lived the scene a
thousand times over
it was so real and so relatable
my friends and i raved over the scene
because in a way
we were all spider-man and spider-man
was all of us
having someone like miles brought such a
familiar perspective to a classic story
that made it more accessible and
inspired a generation of empowered youth
of all colors and backgrounds
miles impacted young african americans
like me but the potential for change is
much greater
as illustrated by black panther black
panther shows the black community
is multifaceted that being black isn’t a
trait exclusive only to african
americans
but is shared by africans as well this
is integral
and representing not only all races but
the different people in each race
and then sharing those differences with
those who may not be familiar with them
black panther aka king t’challa wakanda
is authentic
his actions are relatable he’s a king
a dignified man and most importantly he
is a leader and a role model
not only to his people but to us the
audience
when black panther entered the marvel
cinematic universe in 2018
it was met with incredible success
earning over 1.3
and i repeat 1.3 billion dollars at the
box office
a century ago this feat would have been
impossible and yet a movie with a
majority black cast
the first of its kind exceeded all
economic expectations
through black panther people previously
unvoiced in comic book movies
had their stories told for the first
time in my life
i heard my parents native language of
hausa spoken out loud
in an american film for the first time
ever
100 million native speakers of hausa
were able to hear their language in a
blockbuster hit
while black panther has made great
strides in global outreach and change
we cannot move forward until every
individual is able to see themselves
reflected in their heroes
although black panther and miles morales
have provided the groundwork for social
change
there’s still so much more that needs to
be done
represent representation must be
accurate and consistent
in entertainment media when we
prioritize positive representation
society as a whole benefits positive
media portrayals
create greater empathy for minority
communities
but more importantly protects the mental
well-being of these groups leading to
academic success
and healthy relationships accurate
representation can build an
entire generation of empathetic and
open-minded young people that will soon
be the backbone of our society
when we come together to celebrate our
differences we have the power
to strengthen communities rebuild
economies and fortify the future of our
nation
we must ensure more stories like these
get told
to every kind of person no matter their
background
color religion or class
you have the power to you have the power
to change the status quo
in the way we view our world through the
lens of comic book media
a power that transcends the ability to
fly shape-shift
or read minds you have the power to
bring stories to everyone
regardless of circumstance you have the
power
to incite global change with just a few
small steps
start by picking up new and diverse
content that represents
all people i challenge you to consume
content that may be different than what
you’re used to
and make room for new characters to
inspire generations of inclusivity
additionally support creators that value
accurate representation
by sharing their stories with those
closest to you
the more support these creators receive
the more other people
and in turn companies will look to them
to create content that celebrates
diversity
this reality is in reach but you must
use your power
the power to champion the way stories
are told and who they’re told to
the truth is one hero can’t save the
world on their own
alone we may see these stories wither
away
into forgotten history but together
we have the power to bring these stories
to life
and leave a legacy for generations to
come
and in the words of the great king
t’challa
in times of crisis the wise build
bridges
while the foolish build barriers
we must find a way to look after one
another
as if we were one single
tribe thank you