Voyager racist against black people?

[Elite]

It's true!

Need proof? Look no further than Tuvok, latest in a long line of "magical negroes!"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_Negro

The magical negro is typically "in some way outwardly or inwardly disabled, either by discrimination, disability or social constraint," often a janitor or prisoner. He has no past; he simply appears one day to help the white protagonist.

He is patient and wise, often dispensing various words of wisdom, and is "closer to the earth."

The magical negro serves as a plot device to help the protagonist get out of trouble, typically through helping the white character recognize his own faults and overcome them. Although he has magical powers, his "magic is ostensibly directed toward helping and enlightening a white male character." It is this feature of the magical negro that some people find most troubling. Although the character seems to be showing African-Americans in a positive light, he is still ultimately subordinate to European-Americans.

It just disgusts me that Voyager could be so racist... I couldn't imagine a black person ever liking Voyager, unless they were some sort of sad self-loather.

 

[Timo]

I never can figure it out... Are shitheads like you for real, or is it a favorite American pastime to pretend to be racist just for the effect?

I mean, how can anybody be bothered to do anything like this?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Elite]

I never can figure it out... Are shitheads like you for real, or is it a favorite American pastime to pretend to be racist just for the effect?

I mean, how can anybody be bothered to do anything like this?

Timo Saloniemi

Shitheads like me? Surely, by shithead Americans, you mean the creators and producers of Star Trek Voyager?

 

[Kegek]

I think you're giving Tuvok far too much credit. He's not used that often as a means for getting out of trouble, and is only occasionally looked on as a fountain of wisdom for the others to soak up - more often that not people are needling him about his rigid logic and he's not doing anything much but stand around and fire torpedoes. Which is a shame; Tim Russ was one of the most consistently good actors on that series and deserved higher profile treatment.

 

[idreamedmusic]

Umm, okay. While I think the concept of the "magical negro" holds some value as an archetype (and hello, offensive term anyone?), I do fail to see how that would apply to Tuvok specifically.

 

[Elite]

I agree "Magical Negro" is an offensive term - but it's wikipedia's. Not mine. I imagine the cast and crew used a more offensive term though.

 

[idreamedmusic]

I agree "Magical Negro" is an offensive term - but it's wikipedia's. Not mine. I imagine the cast and crew used a more offensive term though.

And what exactly would you base this on? That's a pretty severe accusation to throw out just like that.

I have to say this is the first I have heard of this concept and wiki isn't the most reliable source on the best of days, though I don't doubt this exists as an archetype - I could see it in some instances. I didn't mean to imply it was your creation, sorry. But again, how exactly do you see Tuvok used like that.

 

[Akiraprise]

I'm all for debate, but this seems like nothing but trolling. Temporarily closing.