Race and Comics

Like many forms of entertainment, especially in America, comics have featured a long history of social stereotypes that have portrayed ethnic characters in often offensive ways. Whether it be the fanged and bucktoothed depictions of the Japanese in comics from the WWII era, or the slow and stuttering black characters used for comic relief, like Ebony White, from The Spirit. Like other methods of entertainment, I don't think comics were intended to be racist, or that it was a secret goal for them to be. But society and people were different in these times. The world was a much more ignorant place, and Americans had little interest in learning about other cultures. Its great that African American superheroes started to appear on page after a while, but its sad that their depictions and their approach was so narrow minded. Comics today however, are becoming more and more progressive, and I think that this began with the creation of Jon Stewart, the 3rd Green Lantern. He's the most loyal and determined and purest soul in the DC universe, not a stuttering sidekick. He's a superhero who happens to be black, as opposed to him being black as a selling point. Its a relief that in today's comics, people of all races and backgrounds can be heroes, even gay and lesbian characters.