Corporate Racism?: Marvel Comics’ Irresponsible Contribution to Political Correctness
Whatever happened to corporate responsibility and the goal of transcending race and class by focusing on the values and principles that unite rather than divide Americans? I raise this question because of Marvel Comics recent decision to replace its white male superhero Peter Parker with Miles Morales, a half-black, half-Latino man from Brooklyn whose sexual identity is currently under discussion at corporate headquarters. Some of the Marvel executives would like to make Morales gay as well. The reconstitution of Spiderman does nothing to advance the level of discourse in the country or to enhance the intellectual development of our children and grandchildren. Their decision evokes has personal implications. I grew up in the rural South with Spiderman as one of my superheroes. The beauty of superheroes came from the fact that the values and principles they espoused transcended race and social class. Their positive messages were so powerful that a little black girl born and raised in the rural South could identify with superheroes who shared neither her race nor her social class. Unfortunately, decisions like the one made by the Marvel executives rob our children of opportunities to transcend race and class.
5 Responses to “Corporate Racism?: Marvel Comics’ Irresponsible Contribution to Political Correctness”
I don’t see anything wrong with changing the race of the Super Heros. They do it all the time, have done it, will continue to do so. The matter of having him to be gay (homosexual) should be a for sure a hell no! No way! Should not have it! Should not even be hint of it in movie. It has never been in the Super Hero story line why posion it now with this kind of mockery. If Spider Man is portrayed as gay society should boycott it. That is a persons personal business their sexual perference. Don’t plant the seed in our childrens’ mind!
Garbage. I wonder if anyone ever said the same thing about Bill Cosby or Michael Jordan. The existence of minority super heroes and role models represented in mainstream media will actually isolate young minority youth? Really? And this is political correctness? You’d think that designating ALL characters to be white in order to “transcend race” would be the very pinnacle of political correctness. As for the gay thing, yes there are young gay people who read comic books. They might want to see themselves represented in their entertainment the same way anyone else would.
We’ll always have the Spider-Man we want — white, black/Latino, gay, whatever. I’ll concede it is difficult to retain one’s personally preferred profile the more popular the recent image becomes — but we’ve yet to see just how big this new Spidey will become in the public’s mind. And isn’t this one relegated to some alternate universe?
However, I object to things like FEAR ITSELF: FF #1 (and multitudinous other comics) depicting scenes of inner-city rioting as being heavily Caucasian, in this case exclusively so! What a sell-out to PC… It absolutely disgusts me with its sheer in-your-face unbelievability.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
First I want to commend you on your approach. It’s a sensitive topic among many people of race. The color line in America does exist, however, let’s not discount the factor that lead to the classical condition of low self esteem, cultural dissociation, lack of educational or responsible administrative advancement or opportunities. It is within the very factors of the UNCHARTED image of minority advancement that people (White) are uncomfortable. Their not familiar with the sight of minority leadership because the media has provided them with false truths or lack of. Blacks and other minorities, in media, have been associated with being sidekicks and comic ends that lack in leadership qualities. Let’s face it we all are doing or striving for the very things, we as people, conditioned ourselves for as readers and television watchers. We build our admiration and intrigue through the visions and experiences of the media creators. If the media creators are accustom to white hero’s then chances are there creation while follow to avoid discomfort. What changing Spiderman will do is expand the horizon of creativity and imagination. Future developers can use a broader approach in character creativity that can better reflect today’s society. I understand you angle and I will say that the issue with changing his race and sex is a clear giveaway to corporate pacification. For you to suggest that a character’s race is not recognizable or that the character’s action’s overshadowed culture in media is somewhat interesting. The previous comment mentioned the like of there not being a Michael Jordan, while the same could be said about the civil war soldiers, he is absolutely right. Everyone benefits from different cultures sharing the same privileges and burdens because it builds a social cohesion beyond racism. We will never achieve the greatness of liberty if we don’t apply change within justice for it is an interpretation. It is just to have change.