Pinkie Pie w/ Depression

My first submission for @creatingblackcharacters’s Melanin Beam Challenge!!! Catra, Bow, Adora, and Glimmer from SPoP :)

(original screencap + rambling under cut)

(André De Shields as Hermes, Hadestown proshot, ballpoint pen)

Reference:

There’s more than a couple mistakes but such is the way when you can’t erase 😅, but after seeing the Hadestown proshot I felt possessed by muses myself lol, even though it was kinda down to the wire. I just adore the way De Shields portrayed Hermes, he really managed to capture the messenger, trickster, and psychopomp aspects of the character and incorporate them all smoothly into his portrayal. Plus his voice is incredible (“Road to Hell” has been on REPEAT)

Mantis Bow

[Ko-fi / Patreon]

“There are expectations in how you play your character as a Black woman, to be sassy and the same kind of feel, as if there are no quirky Black women. I struggle with those things constantly, trying to add dimension to my work, and that’s the goal, too.” - Nicole Beharie 

Writing with color receives many questions regarding the stereotypes Characters of Color and their story lines may possess.

There’s a difference between having a three-dimensional character with trait variance and flaws, versus one who walks the footsteps of a role people of their race/ethnicity are constantly put into. Let’s discuss this, as well as how sometimes, while there’s not much issue with the character, a biased audience will not allow the character to be dimensional.

But first: it’s crucial to consider the thinking behind your literary decisions.

Trace your Logic 

When it comes to the roles and traits you assign your characters, it’s important to ask yourself why you made them the way they are. This is especially true for your marginalized characters.

So you need an intimidating, scary character. What does intimidating look like on first brainstorm? Is it a Black man, large in size or presence? (aka a Scary Black Man) A Latino with trouble with the law? If so, why?

Really dig, even as it gets uncomfortable. You’ll likely find you’re conditioned to think of certain people in certain roles on the spot.

It’s a vicious cycle; we see a group of people represented a certain way in media, and in our own works depict them in the way we know. Whether you consciously believe it’s the truest depiction of them all or not, we’re conditioned to select them for these roles again and again. Actors of Color report on being told in auditions they’re not performing stereotypical enough and have been encouraged to act more “ethnic.” 

This ugly merry-go-round scarcely applies to (cis, straight) white people as they are allowed a multitude of roles in media. Well, then again, I do notice a funny trend of using white characters when stories need a leader, a hero, royalty, a love interest…

Today’s the day to break free from this preconditioned role-assigning.

Frankenstein: (furiously taking notes)

Pieces I managed to do for this year's Art Fight! Featuring (from bottom left then counterclockwise) @immortalarizona's Minune, @lubia-zenite's Ordovish, @too-many-blorbos's Mindy and @spacecowxx's Drayven!

Working on these guys was really fun and I look forward to next year!

skinny people please reblog this one

Keep in mind- this book has nineteen pages- small print!!!- worth of bibliography. She researched a LOT so you could have a book like this. I say this to say two things-

One, the information you seek is out there! When I tell y'all to seek out the bibliography of these nonfiction books, it's because someone went to a LOT of effort to make this more accessible and condensed for you. It didn't come out of nowhere!

(Source) August 2nd, 2026.

1. canonically female (no variation)

2. canonically the protagonist of her story (if it’s an ensemble cast you have to say you can legitimately see her as The main character)

3. your personal #1 favorite character in that story (ties are acceptable)