Diversity representation in the media is a hot topic right now. When movies, shows, or books intentionally introduce people of color (POC), is it respectful and necessary? Dangerously rewriting history? In line with a biblical perspective? I sat down with my Black 20-year-old daughter Grace to discuss this. Grace is currently a junior-year history major at Biola University.
Mom: When do you first remember being impacted by racial diversity in media?
Grace: The 2014 version of Annie. [Grace was about 8 years old.] I grew up watching the other one; I loved it, and that was all I knew. So when they came out with the new version, it helped me to know that there was another way this story could go. There are children of all colors in foster care and orphanages all over the world. I thought, “Hey, I’m not alone in this, and it’s not just children from Africa or China who are orphans.”
It was also significant that William Stacks (like Daddy Warbucks) showed a person of color who was affluent and successful and that was cool too. I realized I loved seeing movies with people who looked like me, and not just as a background character.
Mom: What do you mean by “background character?”
Grace: There’s a joke among Disney fans [of the popular “tween” sitcoms] where there’s always a “token Black friend” (or person of color) who is funny, has snappy remarks, and can either dance or sing. Like “Willow” in Liv and Maddie.
Zendaya was on “Shake It Up,” but left because there wasn’t adequate representation of people of color; then Disney came up with “Casey Undercover,” which has all POC as main characters. The best friend is white. Now there are shows with kids of all different sizes and colors on the Disney Channel.
Mom: Why is this significant?
Grace: Media affects so much of people’s worldview and how they look at the world and other people. And even history. For people who look like me to be represented but then also portrayed as protagonists and as people who matter, that communicates that we are valuable. That our contributions to the world are worth caring about.
Me: What does it subtly communicate when there aren’t any POC characters? Like Hannah Montana?
Grace: It communicates that there can be a “perfect world” without anyone like me in it. Like, we’re not needed. Like, we exist, but there’s no need to make mention of it.
