#minorityrepresentation

Growing up, I loved anything fantasy. Being able to escape into another world helped me get through any issue. But as much as I loved the worlds I explored, the lack of diversity and representation hindered my full immersion. So now as a writer, I strive to include as many different types of people in my works. But I still only know the characters I’d like to see. So I pose this question: if you were a character who would you be? What kind of representation would you like to see in a novel?

There should be a game called “spot the minority” ~ Rebeca E

I love that on Shadowhunters there not one, not two, but THREE Latino actors as part of the main cast. That makes me so proud and so happy. I adore Isabelle (Emeraude Toubia), Simon (Alberto Rosende), and Raphael (David Castro) so much, and they are all doing an absolutely brilliant job on the show. This is a bigger deal than some may realize because this means that Latinos are finally getting opportunities and are getting represented in our entertainment. I love it.

2015 Hollywood Diversity Report: http://www.bunchecenter.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/2015-Hollywood-Diversity-Report-2-25-15.pdf

Many readers of comic books only look at the negatives of altering characters. There are many positives to these changes, mainly for the company, but the audience can enjoy them too. For a comic book publisher, such as marvel, by adding more minority characters to their list of characters, they can increase sales. Minorities who identify with that character will purchase these new comics as will others. This results in easy profits for the comic company. Marvel has already felt the positive impact of minority changes thanks to a relatively new series called “Spider-Gwen”. This has been one of their most successful series involving a female lead. Many are looking forward to the reveal of the “All New All Different Avengers” cast, which will be revealed on free comic book day in an issue which will be free to the public. This is a move by marvel to try and get people attached to a new comic book featuring these diverse characters, which is a smart move by marvel.

I believe this is a large part of why Marvel has caught and captured my attention - even before falling into the fandom. I could go to the theater and see superheroes who looked like me or my brothers or husband as early on as the first IronMan. I could see women who were competent and respected without being super sexualized. There's a really beautiful diversity in the Marvelverse and it turns me on!