Diversity in Comics/Novels

Heyyy Domisotto thanks for sharing your approach and thoughts on this topic!

I know of what you are speaking about and though I cannot speak for all I can speak for some when I say a lot of this comes from BIPOC not being given the same opportunities and exposure for getting our work put front and center or shoot just even being widely available to larger audiences. A good example is how books and fiction written by black folks get labeled as black or "urban" and then insert comedy, fantasy, fiction, etc. (this isn't just with black folks though). This is a double-edged sword. It makes it easier for the BIPOC community to find for sure, but also makes it feel closed off to people that aren't BIPOC and may have been interested in reading the story, but don't want to intrude on BIPOC spaces. Therefore the content gets put in a box within a box. Another example is when instead of having black literature just included in the "canon" of literature in schools, it's relegated to a special time of the year only (February) or an elective class all on its own (Black literature studies). I will say that the last few years have really started to evolve the conversation about black folks throughout the year, but we still working on it. The literature class thing can just be awkward as it is an elective class when offered and many will think that it's for black people only and that if they aren't black they shouldn't intrude, but the reality is that those classes are the only way to get exposure to black literature from a formal education standpoint. Outside of that class you have to look for it on your own. It's really loaded and it's a conversation I've been a part of as well, so I'm pulling from my experiences here, but I do get where you are coming from and I appreciate you taking the time to listen to our voices and do your best to support. I agree that BIPOC voices, art, and stories need to be uplifted and supported 100%!

I will say this though if you have a story or a work of art you wish to create and would like to include BIPOC in it. Do it. There really isn't a reason to stop yourself from adding them unless the reason you want to add them is to make them an ethnic perspective that you can't speak from bc you aren't a member of said group. Ie: making a character that's black that talks about why they do or do not use the N-word. Like, that wouldn't be your place and would get you some ire. But if you did something like make a black character that's an accountant by day and investigative reporter by night that get's into some dangerous hijinks, there are tons of things you could explore and get immersed in that would be totally legit that you could research about and include to enrich her as a character first that is a black woman without stepping on or over our voices.

For the most part, she's just like anyone else, and if you are a woman or woman identifying that's another aspect you can pull from, but things you could research to enrich her as a character that is black is how does she handle her hair day vs night. What color compliment her complexion? Depending on her connection to family mayhaps there is a family recipe for a dish that she's really good at making (yeah I'm talking about soul food). Things like that that we as BIPOC have shared for the rest of the world to take part in and you can know this from a quick youtube search seeing many of us talking about these things and sharing techniques on how we care for and make them.

Talking to other BIPOC about your character and showing concepts is another thing you could do if you wanted to be on the up and up and were unsure of something. And if you want to go the extra mile, highlight some BIPOC who are also making content that relates to yours. Following the example of the reporter above, maybe a case she gets into is about a murder mystery. You could then use that as an opportunity to share the work of a black creator who made a thriller about somebody that got away, or even another mystery story through sharing a link, doing a boost, writing a review, or heck maybe even do a collaboration if they are up for it.

Yes, listen. Yes, support. but it's up to all of us trying to improve the quality of life for BIPOC to be a part of making it happen. Maybe you have a platform that can be used to spread the word about another BIPOC whose work you enjoy. Don't shut up about it. Hype them up too and do you as well. You are a fellow creative that has the right to create as well!

I reply to these comments as I scroll and so I just read @joannekwan response to you and a lot of what they are saying I'm over here echoing as well

I'm getting educated on some terminology today for sure y'all.

Yasss I love collaborationnnnn!! The amount of perspective you can get from doing them is the most beautiful part about doing them. Views mixing and mashing and just ohhh it's always fascinating and enriching to be a part of, even when we don't agree on everything.

Yassss I'm here for it, disabled people are people that deserve that lime-light too, so I am glad to hear you out here trying to represent.

O-k-k then that sounds fascinating Orchid! I love that you are paying attention to how the climate and atmosphere would affect the people living in that world.

Drawing is a process or sure, but if it's something you want to do, take it a bite a time and do as much as you can at a time and you will improve over time.

Sorry if I am blowing up your inbox bc I got the gift of gab when it counts (and doesn't haha).

Anywho, you bring up another valid perspective, but some more specific insight on this is that I've noticed os that the folks being accused of capitalizing off of BIPOC material are often the ones in the positions that could be making a difference in the lives of said BIPOC, but tend not to through casting, writers room, directors, hair and makeup choices, etc. My early comment to you goes into more detail on other ways this can be addressed as a content creator who isn't a big wig money bags. For the rest of us folks making our content often by ourselves, being respectful and inclusive is one of the most ally things we can do for one another. Also learning to not be afraid to face the fact that we may say or do something insensitive by accident, but that's ok if it's in earnest and you wish to do/be better.

"To err is human...but to forgive is divine"-Alexander Pope

He was talking about medicine, but like it applies to all us human folk. It's important to remember that as we journey forward and do our best, specifically as creators here but this applies in other aspects too, that when we make mistakes and get called out that we learn from them and forgive ourselves for them, even if you feel someone(s) is being hard on you and makes you feel some kind of way if you are able to get what they are saying for why it's offensive, you'll come out better for it in the end (though I am way more of a fan of talking to someone personally than calling them out, tis the time we live in). If the mistake was made out of ignorance and you owned up to it, I guarantee there will be folks in your corner that would appreciate you for being big enough to admit so. I'm one of them, fellow human human fellas, lol .

Do what's best for you

I'm glad that you are listening and a part of this conversation. If you ever want to discuss something that could use the perspective of a tall black cis woman that is fat and had a run-in with cancer, them be my qualifications and my DMs are open

Woof that's a whole nother thing right there. Like already having diversity built into your work from the get-go but having people tease you about it. SMH, talk about backward :/.

Go on ahead Kura and lay down them truths!

That's some perseverance in the face of adversity yo and I'm mad that you were made to feel as though you had to hide or "fix" your work when it was perfectly natural and that it's like that for so many people is similar positions. I am glad that in your own way you kept pressing forward though, that's what's up.

I felt this in my heart and it touched my bones. In the simplest way that gets the point across, It's nice to know that other people outside your circle see you as another human being the way you are.

Happy Black History Month to you too!

It sounds like you are on a journey of discovery and learning what inclusion and diversity look like to you :D.

Thanks for sharing

Thank you Remy for sharing your thoughts and experiences on this topic. Your story is very much welcomed in this discussion and glad you shared it here

Though I don't know your personality and our experiences are different, I get you on that front when your a creative individual making content and don't even consider yourself, people like you, or your culture as being a protagonist worthy.

It's wild bc you are the creator so it seems like it would be natural to include aspects of yourself that stem from cultural/racial/ethnic standpoint, but when we don't see ourselves in the media we consume, or are made to feel that we won't be as "palatable" to other consumers... it can have this effect on us. It's messed up and has served to make many of us feel down low.

It's something we have to consciously face in order to overcome and be aware of why we think the way we do when we are hit by these thoughts (or other peoples statements like how @Kura was expressed in how they approached being target growing up for trying to make a space that represented them.) in order to reinforce that there is nothing wrong with our race or culture/ethnicity and we have every right to be represented. Especially if we have to make the representation ourselves.

Ah your characters look fun and them expressions got me smiling haha! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the topic and adding to this conversation as well.

Good character building first that is supplemented by including diversity is definitely the way to go in my book too!