The Bachelor franchise undoubtedly has a bad reputation for its lack of diversity. Although a handful of black women are cast alongside a sea of tall blondes, no black woman has ever made it very far in the show, and this goes the same for the Bachelorette. It is unsettling as to why this phenomenon is prevalent, but this season, the Bachelor is squashing its stereotypes in Rachel Lindsay.
Rachel is a 31-year-old attorney who not only exudes class and sophistication but is also kind to all of the other contestants. So far this season, she has received the coveted first impression rose and a group date rose. According to Reality Steve, Lindsay is the first black woman in the show’s history to get the first rose and the first to make it into the final four.
These firsts not only have significant meaning to the direction of the franchise, but also to the direction of society as a whole in regards to racial acceptance. By increasing the duration of black women on the show, ABC is exemplifying the reality of equal desirability between the races further than ever before. Being a major television network, broadcasting this message during prime time hours will most definitely have a positive influence on American society’s racial views.
Personally, I do not think that the Bachelor will stop at just getting Rachel to the final four. I believe that they are shaping her up to be the first ever black Bachelorette. Her edit on the show makes her look superior to all of the other contestants, and Rachel is never shown making any negative comments and her personality is portrayed as both extremely friendly and intelligent. The show does this to the contestants who they are considering for the next season’s lead. There’s a big possibility that the Bachelor wants to take their franchise in a much more diverse and inclusive direction, and Rachel Lindsay would make the perfect Bachelorette to represent it. I would be thrilled to not only watch her season, but every season after hers as the Bachelor franchise progresses in diversity and acceptance.
