Have you or anyone else who’s read a book assumed the main character is white? The author never mentions the character’s race, but everyone still thinks that they’re white by default. Why?
The protagonist in the book you just started? They must be white unless the author describes their almond eyes, olive complexion, or “chocolate mahogany” skin.
Katniss Everdeen, the main character of the Hunger Games trilogy, is white, despite Suzanne Collins describing her as having olive skin. But for another character named Rue, who has no description of race or skin color, to be black? Outrageous! People were infuriated with the thought of a young Amandla Stenberg playing Rue.
To cast a person of color in a historical movie? Many would argue against the historical inaccuracy as if we didn’t exist in the past. And if you try to cast people of color in fantasy or sci-fi, good luck. Because, of course, PoC are the least believable aspect of any fantasy world. Remember when John Boyega was cast as Finn, a black stormtrooper? The Star Wars fandom almost exploded.
A dangerous thing happens when you set white as the default. It equates whiteness with normalcy. And, unfortunately, in our white supremacist world, white is what’s normal. Consequently, anything deviating from whiteness is considered abnormal. You are either normal or you are “ethnic.”
As a result, we are forced to shed our colors and cultures to fit into the narrow standard of normalcy. We alter the natural patterns of our hair, we change the shapes of our eyes and noses. We bleach the melanin away and shield ourselves against the life-giving sunlight. We abandon our tongues and accents. We hide our identities as best we can. But why?
Because we have to be closer to normal. And for terrible reasons, white is considered the norm.
What else is normal? Normal is a movie cast without any people of color. But a cast of all black people would be very strange. Racist, even.
What’s normal is five identical blonde-haired, blue-eyed finalists competing for the title of Miss Teen USA. But a black Miss USA? Unbelievable.
Normal is an aisle in the store reserved for you and your “ethnic hair.” And that is what white supremacy does, it alienates you from who you are.
But people of color are resilient. We have a long history of finding strength in our colors. And in true solidarity, we can redefine the default. We can declare that we are normal and at the same time extraordinary because despite all of the odds, we are here.
