Solar Flare: Science Fiction News

The Charlotte Observer has an article posted about the use (and frequently absence) of black characters in science fiction, both books, films and tv. Although the author’s particular issue is with black characters, I think most of the points actually apply to any minority race really.

Now this isn’t anything to radical or new. Plenty of people have pointed out this and similar issues before with regard to both science fiction and fantasy. However, it did get me thinking about why the situation exists and what if anything can really be done about it.

Some might argue that it doesn’t matter what race the hero of a novel is. I suspect that a lot of us don’t really even consider the race of the hero. But then, I’m white. On the other hand if I think about it a moment, I can see why someone would yearn to see, or read about someone they can identify with.

In my own way I’m a minority, I’m Scottish, but I live in the United States. I live in a culture which while similar is still different. Sometimes I really miss the familiar (to me). So I can see how people who’s culture differs more significantly from the “white male” norm would hanker to see something familiar to them. But how to get there?

Unfortunately I don’t see any easy answers. Television and film have always pandered to the majority and that isn’t going to change. As a result I’m afraid that minorities have never been well treated particularly well. Things have improved, but until you get to the point where tv executives actually believe that the majority will happily watch a show with a black lead which isn’t part of some ghetto tv segment (I’m looking at you UPN!) I don’t think we’ll see major changes on that front.

The best bet for minorities is in written fiction. But there, they face a different problem. It seems that the majority of science fiction writers seem to be white. A white writer may well be reluctant to tackle a minority as their main character for fear of simply not being able to pull it off. Could I (not that I’m a great writer mind you) write a black character? Probably as well as I can write a woman. Which is to say, passably, but without the level of insight that a black writer could apply to it. I might be confident enough to have black characters in secondary roles, but the primary character who’s head I’m showing the readers. Uh… pass!

Science fiction is supposed to be the fiction of change, but changing people’s views on race seems to be something it’s very reluctant to try. The only real solution I see to the situation is more science fiction by non-white writers. Of course now I’ve made it sound like every SF and fantasy writer out there is a white male, which is far from the truth but they are the majority.

Anyone care to suggest some good books either by non-white authors or prominently featuring non-white characters. I know they’re out there.

Link: Charlotte Observer - Blacks In Sci Fi