Hereās the issue when it comes to writing people of color/LBGT though. A lot of the time those characters are completely, and utterly, focused and centered on their sexuality or skin color. All of their problems, all of their struggles, and all of their conflicts originate from those traits. You know what that does to a character? It makes them shallowā¦
White, straight, male characters are always going to be more interesting as CHARACTERS because their problems, their struggles, and their depth doesnāt rely on skin color, sexuality, or gender. None of their issues are cliche or copy and pasted. Tell me, does Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent seem like they have any sort of similar issues?Ā
No. They donāt. Bruce watched his parents get murdered in front of him and it changed him on such a fundamental, basic, level that he considers himself BATMAN and not Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne is not who he is. Batman is who he really is. Thatās his REAL name, his TRUE identity. Even with the Lasso of Truth compelling him to speak ONLY the Truth heās asked who he is and he simply sayās that heās Batman. Not Bruce Wayne. That one part of his character is so in depth and interesting to even think about that it transcends pretty much everything. Skin color, gender, sexuality. They are trivial. Shallowā¦Ā
What about Clark Kent? An alien orphan of a practically extinct species that was sent to Earth after his home planet and people were eradicated. While on Earth he became the adopted son of the Kentās and struggled all his life to control what he could do, questioned who he really was, where he came from, and if his real parents were out there somewhere. Then there was the path to self discovery and the dream of becoming a beacon of hope for people all around the world respecting the law, advocating for true justice, and peace. That was NOT an easy path and yet he went along with it anyway.Ā Ā
Neither of those two have anything in common really except theyāre both White and Male. Yet they both have their own, interesting, in depth, issues and struggles that are completely independent from one another.Ā
What happens to Black Characters� To Women? To LGBT people?
You have the same exact struggles in every single one of them.Ā
Iām sorry, but how are these things more interesting than issues that originate independently from trauma, philosophy, and character flaws? With Trauma, Philosophy, and character flaws there are almost infinite amounts of stories with truly in depth characters that you can make. However, with sexism, racism, and LGBT-Phobia itās⦠how should I put itā¦? Itās basically the same bland, tasteless, flavor but with different brands.Ā
Tell me, how is Falcon (Sam Wilson), Finn, Lando Calrisian, Mace Windu, and many more any different from any other White Character? Are they more interesting because theyāre Black? What about Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel (God I hate that character), Black Widow, and Scarlett Witch? Are they more interesting than men? Why? Are they more interesting because theyāre women?Ā
Do you see what I mean? Characters that have issues, struggles, and problems that originate from themselves will be extremely more successful and interesting than the same old,Ā āIām Black. I gotta put up with these side looks from White People all the time. Racist Pigs.ā OrĀ āThey think that I canāt do it because Iām a woman. Iāll show them.āĀ
Thatās just my two cents anyway.Ā