Yes melanin is more protection for sure, it could still happen though, it's just not as often.
Awe thanks sweets, I'm just out here making and enjoying the media I love to see and digging engaging with folks who also like making art n comics heh. Dishing on anime is one of my favorite past times XD. I used to watch ANYTHING if it was animated, but I've gotten way pickier these days lol (ain't got the same amount of time as my school days self had).
Yooo your general world-building stuff sounds cool to me and you've put a lot of thought into the lands and sociopolitical interactions and that's the spice. Yeah, the world will be made of all types so folks with big egos are a part of a mixed bag of treats.
Yassss gal flesh out them bada$$ ladiessssssssssss. Drawing from common experience in that regard will definitely aid you on your character journey since you do know what common struggles women face in general that you can work with. I'll smile if I want to, but it won't be for you random stranger who may get the wrong idea or idk I just don't feel like it chill :V.
Yeah so the sex thing is tied back to the Antebellum times and was one of the made-up things said to justify slave owners raping slaves (male and female). There's a lot of history and where the term mandingo comes from (do not google unless you are grown bc it's gonna be nsfw).
There is totally nothing wrong with romance and sex being sex-positive in my eyes, I'm all for folks having a good time together. If my ramblings can aid or inform in any way I'm happy. I want to read more stories with BIPOC existing and not being the butt of a joke or there to have their only character trait is support others, or you know just to be a stepping stone and like discarded, or ok well you get it (you've been here this whole week long conversation journey).
From what I've gleaned from you, I don't see a lot of these cautionary tales being things you'd have had many issues with, but like I'm out here spilling my tea cup so touching on these things as they go. I don't have a syllabus or anything, this stuff just lives rent-free in my head and has most of my life. Gurrlllll gender roles and expectations is a whole other layer and you know it. Like my fingertips couldn't take going into gender rep at this moment, but I know you can dish on that as well as I can haha.
When I was younger I couldn't always put my finger on why watching certain movies or tv made me feel alienated or even angry, but as I grew up and learned more I've been able to express those feelings a lot better and it helped me connect with people who do make things that make me happy and feel included and why I make the wild silly things that I do. I like monster romances staring bipoc and seeing big girls get love. A silly little thing, but it's a niche that's not tapped into enough for my liking lol.
Mnn Yesss familiar ties and coming together to look out for one another, deliciousssssss
For truth! Writing is totally an art in itself and short stories that leave an impact are freaking masterful and like I just get blown out. I love listening to Lavar Reads Podcast (Good ol reading Rainbow never actually left us haha). He really finds some amazing short stories from all kinds of people from diverse walks and beings of life and if you are in want of a good short story, totally check him out!
Yeah, sounds like you got a good handle on how you want to take your characters lady!!
I getcha, I stay saying sexy, purtty, handsome, hawt, too. We just talking bout race stuff so I added it in there and appreciate you for being open and mature about this convo, bc it is easy for people to feel hurt or attacked when discussing sensitive topics like this, but it's really not my intent to attack anyone who is genuinely trying to learn and figure shiz out.
YASSSS there is beauty and hawtness to be found in people all around the world inside and out
Ahhh I really like Despicable Me, but haven't seen the minions movie yet. I should fix that :3c
If you can't explore diversity in fantasy settings I feel like you are really missing out on living a fantastical fantasy life lol.
Yeeeeaaaa Enthri, as one of my favorite sayings, goes:
"How do you eat a whale?
One bite at a time."
Making everything from scratch for an original comic is a LOT as folks in this forum can attest to I'm sure. It's totally possible though, just gotta chip away at it, Being organized doesn't hurt lol. I love drawing bodies, clothing though, as much as I love it, is something I have a hard time designing in ways that I like. I tend to stick to a general feel for a character so I get my point across, but like I'm not even going to lie. I have asked for help from some friends who are way better at designing clothes than I am for some special event outfits XD.
Ahh your poor scalp DX. I love being in the water. I learned to float, but can't do anything besides an exhausting doggy paddle :V. I need to fix that.
Yassss that's right be the change you want to see too! I know that has gots to be frustrating seeing the same old same old tiered and reused tropes used to describe your ethnic background and home bc you are more. Ok I totally giggled at the Cactus and Desert part bc I could like feel your exasperation coming through and I feel you.
Yasss Día de Muertos rep!!! it is a great feeling to feel seen. I watched Shaman King for a while as a kid and then tried to watch the remake and didn't get far. OOOHHHHHH YOU Bought up Shaman King and now I gotta think about Chocolove McDaniel's character design deep breaths. You wanna talk about offensive cringe. I stopped watching the show around the time he showed up too. I tried to keep on bc I liked it, but it was a bit much. I'm hella happy they updated his design for the new anime, but idk, my Shaman king love days have just passed me by (may you rest in peace Faust the VIII, you were my gateway into admitting I have a thing for necromancers haha).
You have a story you want to tell and a diverse array of characters you are crafting to be people in your world and not racist/ignorant caricatures as you are open to discussion. You are working to be informed about real-life issues that are often overlooked or translated awkwardly in media to avoid falling into those traps while building a diversly populated world filled with all kinds of folks with goals and motivations.
I'm always happy to see black (and fat) folks in the media I consume. All I hope for is that folks be a bit mindful of what they put out there if the only things they know about black people are the things they've seen in popular media. Things are a lot more varied nowadays in options and sources for information. I'm defo camp explore media from people from diverse walks of life; reading a book, catching a podcast, chatting in a forum, doing a search engine check, read articles, there are so many ways to at least be made aware of hurtful tropes. Once you are aware of the history and hurtful/ignorant tropes, you can avoid perpetuating them unknowingly. This can be helpful info for fiction or nonfiction type world-building and character creation. This is general info that I think applies to most folks that aren't white or have a culture not presented often enough in popular media but yeahhhh .