Lit Ignorance is Bias: The Diversity Manifesto

yeah I don’t think any amount of coincidence by itself could explain why only white guys were in power

 

I mean the real explanation, of course, was that it was Hollywood in the 70's and 80's and we have systemic issues here on Earth.

 

I really don't think this is something the OT forces us to conclude. It's a bad look, but again, a couple dozen people in a galactic government--most of whom are military, in fact, not actual governing officials--are by no stretch of the imagination "the only people in power". I would be comfortable with Coffee's notion that the higher echelons of the military are an old-boy's-club (especially because that's already at least semi-canon per Smuggler's Run), but I don't think it's something that absolutely needs an explanation. In an organization the size of the Empire, yes, it can be an unfortunate coincidence. Just like this is...

 

Thanks, Gamiel. That covered a lot of ground very well, including a discussion of how the conceptualization of Jewishness evolved over time that had a lot of information that was new to me. @Sigismund , as it was your question that initially got this particular ball rolling, you may find this to be of interest.

 

I'm planning to listen to the audiobook soon. Any details on queer characters?
At least that'll give me something to hold onto when Solo (probably) disappoints in LGBT diversity.

 

Taka is nonbinary.

 

Here's something I haven't seen much chat about, but it occurred to me back when the announcement was first made that Tag & Bink were going to appear in Solo.

Spoiler

It never occurred to me that Bink Otuana wasn't a person of color, because...I have functioning eyes. But he wasn't cast as a person of color. And now I just read this on Wookieepedia.

"Bink's appearance is based on Kevin Rubio's brother Brian. In Tag & Bink Are Dead, Bink appears significantly darker skinned than Tag; however, according to Kevin Rubio, this was done so as to further differentiate the two. By Tag & Bink: Revenge of the Clone Menace, Bink and Tag have a more similar complexion."

So.

 

Don't Hispanic just means that Spanish is your mother's tongue and has noting to do with skin colour? Or is this another one of those Americanisms that I don't understand

 

In my understanding, Hispanic is a vague, broad term referring to populations that have a historical link to Spain. In other words, Hispanics cover the whole specter of skin tones.

 

It's complicated.

Anyway Bink's not being played by a Hispanic actor, so wompppp.

 

I think there was a little talk on Twitter about that when it was announced. I dunno, it’s a weird situation and for all we know they’re just background characters that the credits happen to call Tag and Bink. If the movie actually gives us any Imperials of color whatsoever I’ll feel more charitable about it—and if it doesn’t then it’s just par for the course.

 

The course is bad, Coop! We need to stop golfing here!

 

The Lando's Summit sketch reminded me of this sketch, which is wonderful.



Someone on the SNL writing staff is an enormous Star Wars nerd, because most of their sketches are...pretty canon compliant? And there's no reason whatsoever that this should be a concern in a comedy skit?

 

While we're at it.

 

Anyone familiar with the scene from Chasing Amy where Hooper X exposits about the lack of racial diversity in comics? I couldn't post a clip here because of the language, but if you know it you know it's an interesting reverse conversation starter.

 

I love this sketch because at my old job I used to meet so many guys just like this.

 

maybe of interest: Here Are the '10 Best African Films of All Time,' According to Top International Critics

 

Rereading Mercy Kill - the Wraiths run into a black Imperial officer.

 

Rereading Mercy Kill - the Wraiths run into a black Imperial officer.

 

Interesting point brought up here about Barriss Offee, the Muslim coding of Mirialans, and the terrorism arc of The Clone Wars.

 

Glad you brought this to my attention - I normally flee in terror from thread necromancy and would normally have never bothered with that, but it's actually been an interesting conversation to follow, not least because I myself had never thought in terms of Mirialans as being Muslim-coded before.

 

Same.