Thread by @HTTPaladin, My favorite show as a kid was Teen Titans. Growing up wanting [...]

My favorite show as a kid was Teen Titans. Growing up wanting to be someone people liked or someone who people could rely on for a laugh, I automatically could see myself in Beast Boy. And that was a part of their goal in the show, after all. To let kids see themselves in it.

It is, after all, why they never explicitly state which Robin is Robin in any form of writing or dialogue. It was to help kids relate to the young heroes who would be closer in age to their chosen demographic, rather than the demographic of their older audience in the original.

With the exception of Starfire, each character had their own season as well. Robin dealt with pressures from authority figures and himself. Terra dealt with her capabilities and fitting in. Cyborg dealt with what it means to be human and to grow up. Raven dealt with identity.

Starfire didn't get her own season, however. There was to be a sixth season and while it didn't get made, there was one episode that stuck out to me, even as a kid.

Season 4, Episode 6. Troq.

They meet this hero named Val-Yor who is fighting an alien force named The Locrix, and the Titans aid him in a mission to fight them. He gets along with everyone in some way, as he is this paramount heroic, charismatic, cleft chin space hero. He even has nicknames for them all.

But while he calls Robin "Spike", Raven "Sunshine", Beast Boy "Champ", and Cyborg "Metal Butt", he refers to Starfire as Troq.

"I don't need help from a stupid Troq."

"You getting all this, Troqqie?"

"This is a job for you, Troqqie."

Right before Starfire prepares for a mission, Val-Yor is asked why he can't move the mines himself. He says he could, but he needs to be inside to navigate the ship, and that Starfire's people can withstand the hostile conditions of space.

Cyborg asks Starfire if she's okay to go through with the mission, and Starfire replies that she wants to prove her usefulness. Once again, Val-Yor refers to her as Troq, and Cyborg asks what that means. Starfire explains that it means nothing.

Starfire moves mines out of the way of the spaceship, but accidentally sets one off on its counter. She pushes it out of the way, much to everyone's surprise, and her team's relief, and when she returns Cyborg is there to greet her: "Way to go, Troqqie!"

SF: "You do not call me that!"

Cy: "But Val-Yor calls troq all the time."

SF: "That does not make it right."

Cy: "What's up? I thought you said it didn't mean anything."

SF: "No. I said it means nothing. When Val-Yor calls me troq, he is saying I am worthless. Anothing."

Cy: "Star..."

SF: "There are those on other planets who feel Tamaranians are inferior. "Troq" is what they call us."

Cy: "So he's calling you a terrible name. And you know if you punch him out it'll just confirm all the bad stuff he thinks about you."

SF: "Yes. You know what it feels like to be judged simply because of how you look?"

Cy: "'Course I do. I'm part robot. Lets go find Robin."

SF: "Wait. Perhaps we should inform Robin later."

Cy: "He'd want to know now."

At this, she smiles.

They tell Robin the truth behind the word, and when Robin starts to go to tell Val-Yor off, she tells him no. "Our mission is more important than my feelings."

They land on the planet and eventually succeed on their mission to destroy the episode's monster-of-the-week villain.

Throughout it, however, Val-Yor continues to chide at Starfire, who has elected to go alongside him to aid him directly. And still, at every moment, the slur comes out, regardless of what she assistance she has provided. Even inviting her to stay near a bomb as it blows.

Val-Yor gets caught in a trap, however, and Starfire saves him.

"You may not value my life, but I still value yours."

Val-Yor attempts to thank the team, but they tell her to thank Starfire. Its this conversation that sticks out in my head.

VY: "Thank you, Starfire. I have to admit, you're not bad for a tr-. Tamaranian. You must be one of the good ones."

SF: "No, the fact that I rescued you does not make me any better than other Tamaranians."

VY: "Look, I'm trying to pay you a compliment."

Raven: "Then why does it still sound like an insult?"

VY: "Spike, you understand. I didn't mean anything by it, it's just-"

Robin: "Val-Yor, I think it's time for you to go."

VY: "I thought you earthlings were alright. I guess I was wrong. You're just like the troqs."

Robin, to Starfire: "I'm sorry Val-Yor treated you like that. If I'd known, I never would have let it happen."

Cy: "None of us would."

SF: "There is nothing you could have done. There will always be people who say mean words because you are different. And sometimes their minds cannot be changed.

"But there are many more people who not judge others based on how they look or where they are from.Those are the people whose words truly matter."

And the episode ends.

Its been fifteen and a half years since that episode aired. I was 12, and it still plays in my mind.

Racism doesn't always look like a red hat, and it doesn't always announce itself to you. Sometimes it endears itself to those close to you while giving you the harsh word out of earshot. Sometimes its someone who your loved ones care for too.

Racism is the kid who told my little brother that he's a dog because he's Filipino, but its also the church goer who says I'm beautiful because I'm half-white. Racism is when my very English name is changed once the college examiner sees my skin tone.

Racism is being told I don't sound Asian. Racism is having a girl show interest in me because she has yellow fever, but then dumping me when I'm not the right kind of Asian. Racism is people accepting I'm failing an English class because my mother speaks Tagalog.

I still play that episode in my mind, almost weekly. I remember other cartoons and shows that had their one-off episode on racism, and how almost always, someone changed their view. But in this one, despite what I may disagree about it, the antagonist didn't change.

Because sometimes you don't change people. Some people won't accept me no matter what I do. Some people wrap themselves up in the guise of friendship. And some people show me, and only me, what they're really like.

Some people reveal themselves to be Val-Yor.

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