ngl the continual whitewashing of theron shan is. Just so disheartening. It enrages me, it pisses me off, but it also leaves me with disappointment and sorrow.
AAPI men have always been emasculated in western culture. Growing up in the 90s as chinese american, I never saw asian men who were seen as the love interest, or the cool person, or the strong person. They were always shunted off to being the nerd, undesirable, smart but not worth romantic efforts. That was always reserved for the white protagonist.
While I didn't have to deal with the brownface that my dad grew up with, I still didn't get the positive representation I had wanted for as a kid. (I remember, while watching one of his favorite movies, Short Circuit (1986), and Short Circuit 2 (1988), he told me about the Indian character, Ben Jabituya/Jahveri. Ben was played by a white man, Fisher Stevens. But he was still so excited for any positive asian representation in film, nevermind love interests.)
When I see Theron Shan whitewashed, I just see the ongoing casual racism that I grew up with. Asian men aren't desirable, are you kidding? They can't be love interests, that's reserved for white people. Asian men are hardly men at all.
I'll make it very plain and clear. To whitewash Theron Shan, whose mother is Space Korean and whose dad is most likely Space Maori, you continue the racist actions and activity of emasculating AAPI men.
I'm sure no one here wants to be racist. And I'm not comparing anyone to white men in white hoods carrying crosses, far from it. Actions may be racist, but that doesn't mean you mean to be racist. However, it is important to unlearn these biases that have been ingrained in us by a racist western society.
For those whose actions are being called into question? Sincerely, and without anger, I say this: I hope you are able to step back, take a moment to soak in the information provided, and reflect. I hope you're able to grow.
