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Stop giving dark-skinned characters blue/gree/gray/light eyes to signify being "special": 2020
Getting some questions, so lemme say this.
There ARE actual people that have dark skin and blue or other lightly colored eyes. They do exist. No one is claiming they don't.
I'm talking about a trope that is something of an extension of and runs parallel to the Magical Negro.
There ARE actual people that have dark skin and blue or other lightly colored eyes. They do exist. No one is claiming they don't.
I'm talking about a trope that is something of an extension of and runs parallel to the Magical Negro.
This was a trope created by white writers for the benefit of white readers. Now, there's this push to reclaim and explore problematic tropes by authors from the marginalized groups said tropes usually exploit.
There was recently a number of threads about queer writers exploring
There was recently a number of threads about queer writers exploring
things like painful stories or killing your gays or a number of other things and how queer authors need to be given the freedom to explore those things and turn them on their heads or whatever.
Amazing threads, really, you should seek them out to read when you get the chance.
Amazing threads, really, you should seek them out to read when you get the chance.
Anyway, I feel there is a space for Black people to do the same with the tropes surrounding us. Similarly to how we're able to explore stories that have often been used to perpetuate stereotypes by white writers. Lots of Black writers I know deal with stories about the struggle,
the hood, gangsters, all manner of things we've seen trotted out to paint us with a stereotypical brush. But, Black writers very often go beyond the surface of those stereotypes and offer a more nuanced view on a number of levels, many of which lots of non-Black folk don't catch.
That's when you get non-Black authors trying to do the same thing and messing it up, but I digress.
Just like those Black authors who write about those stereotypes with a nuanced hand, I think it could maybe, possibly be done with the light eyes = special trope. MAYBE. I have
Just like those Black authors who write about those stereotypes with a nuanced hand, I think it could maybe, possibly be done with the light eyes = special trope. MAYBE. I have
my reservations of course, but I'll never say never. I do however believe that, if it's to be done, it has to come from the group it would otherwise harm.
Who knows, maybe the solution will be similar to when you have MULTIPLE queer characters, then one dying lessens the blow.
Who knows, maybe the solution will be similar to when you have MULTIPLE queer characters, then one dying lessens the blow.
I don't know what the solution looks like, but I am loathed to tell Black writers that they can't attempt to tackle this or any other issue/trope.
That being said.... Stop giving dark-skinned characters light eyes to signify being "special": 2020.
That being said.... Stop giving dark-skinned characters light eyes to signify being "special": 2020.
Hell, maybe the solution is to make the eyes purple or some shit. Nobody has purple eyes except people in anime. Start there. *shrug*
Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
Addendum: If you give your Black characters blue/green/gray eyes because they're special or different or whatever, and people say something because you didn't attempt to usurp the trope, you just wrote it? Don't... don't be out here saying "Elle said I could." Cuz I din. Mk? Mk.