American Heritage: The Actual Captain America

This is a metaphor for how race in the media could ideally be portrayed. After all, it’s a little ironic that the character made to represent “America” is a White male with blonde hair and blue eyes in a land already inhabited by a people who look nothing like this. Though I understand the history of Captain America and don’t argue we change him, I use him as a more pronounced example of how little other races have historically been depicted in our television and film. This is slowly changing; we are increasingly seeing minorities in larger, positive roles, and I don’t want to take from this. Instead, I stress the importance its continuance and encourage that we do not become complacent about which groups we include.

    Representation is important. We learn what is normal or acceptable based on what we see around us; this includes media. Television or film may be the first time we are introduced to concepts that can effect how we interact with others in the future and present or interpret our past. For example, I had never thought about Native Americans or the nuances of their cultures until reading books written by Native American authors and seeing films centered on Native American stories. I had never realized how disrespectful some of my thoughts and actions were toward the physically disabled until seeing their perspective in films. So what could it say to a girl with darker skin to only see those lighter than her (of any race) inferred as beautiful on T.V.? What does it say to a young man to only ever see his treated as the awkward comic relief? It is just as important to ask what effect this may have on the majority and minority cultures collectively. Or, the effect if these groups are never shown?

    Inclusivity in our media is a difficult balancing act. It is hard to tell at what point one is forgoing realism for diversity, especially when some may not realize the importance of this representation. But if an American movie is taking place in New York, Miami, or Japan, it doesn’t seem hard to believe that there could be a significant number of non-Whites in the main cast. Also, if the film already involves highly unrealistic magic, vampires, humanoid aliens, giant robots, etc., should having an interracial couple really be considered what takes things too far?

    But I also know that it is hard for some to write about what they don’t know. A White person who has grown up in a largely White town may simply not think to include other races in their stories, just as I, an able-bodied person, may not have ever thought to include someone physically disabled. Other times they may feel out of place doing so.  It also makes sense that the majority culture would be depicted more in films, but this fact, and the abilities to avoid being overlooked or awkwardness when included are examples of privilege that our majority culture can take for granted. 

    This privilege will remain, even as the races we depict continue to become more proportional to our population, as it will still result in a lack of equal representation for smaller minority groups like Asians and Native Americans. To an extent, there isn’t a way around this, but it does emphasize the important role we as artists, writers, and patrons with our creative license can play in adding to the problem or solution. As the increasing diversity in the media reflects, many want to be a part of the solution. Let’s keep this momentum going, and remember that diversity includes White people too. This way, inclusion of diversity will become something that is done automatically, rather than with conscious effort. When this happens, and minorities are commonly featured as frequently in as wide an array of roles as our majority culture, then we will truly be able to celebrate America for being the “melting pot” we say it is.