Look for it before asking for it

We all have heard the phrase 'Representation Matters' and it most certainly does. To act as if there is a level playing field in regards to things like equality would just be intellectual dishonesty. However, things like forced diversity do not help matters. When comic book companies swap racial identities of traditional and long standing characters, you have to expect some backlash from the fans of those characters. It is also an interesting dynamic in that some people in our community also reject those characters too. Personally, I can take it or leave it. Yet, I make a point to not just celebrate "that" because "that" does not help the bottom line. What does help the bottom line is discovering those whom William H. Foster III so eloquently put in the title of his book "Looking for a Face like Mine". For any company to just use another color of ink for a storied character can be percieved as disingenuous. Sometimes it can be taken like "here you go, now shut up". Perhaps it is taken that way because of the frustration of people often do not see their faces on the walls of comic book shops.

The comic shop wall is a space where you can find the latest comic book creations. It is a space that is shared by dozens of companies but the main two companies that take up the most space are Marvel and DC. Those companies publish a rough estimate of 30 to 50 titles a month. Image, another company may actually some months publish just as much or even more. Yet, Image still holds the title of being an 'independent' company. The picture above kind of depicts the thought of the average woke Black cat in a comic shop. In this case, the scene is from the 1989 film Do the Right Thing by distinguish elder Spike Lee. The character Buggin-Out is sitting a pizza palour eating a slice of pizza. He is just about to take a bite of pizza and looks up and notices the pictures hanging on the wall of Italian Americans. What 'bugs' him is the fact that there are not Black people on the wall. He's kind of stunned at the thought because well, its a shop in a predominantly Black neighborhood. Where are the brothers on the wall? Do the Right Thing brushes lightly on fact that the neighborhood used to be a White neighborhood. Sal who is owner of the shop has a son named Pino who wants his dad to move the shop to where their people are. Sal, the business man knows that there are dozens of pizzerias in the Italian neighborhood. Here in BedStuy, he does not have to compete. He is willing to deal with the static of the residents because at the end of the day, those people buy his pizza. Now, could Sal put up a picture or two, sure but he doesn't have to because its his business. Buggin-Out is wanting to see himself on the wall and there is nothing wrong with that except, its not your wall Buggin. You have to create your own. If you have seen the movie, you know the fall out resulted in Sal's shop being damaged and the surrounding neighborhood looted over the killing of a kid called Radio Raheem by local police. It was a mess but the movie showed the tensions of racial relations on the hottest day of the year. So what is the solution? Marvel and DC to start have rosters of Black Superheroes. Start there. You can do a search for their Black Characters. You can also look for independent comic book companies who do comic books featuring Black people. I tell you what, I will give you a cheat sheet. www.worldofblackheroes.com This website has a comprehensive list of Black superheroes and characters. Now, it is up to you to go and find them. Many of these characters have been around a long time. You can spend a healthy amount of time just looking for material online on ebay and other sites. If that does not do it for you then google Black Superheroes. You can complain but you have a leg to stand on if you do not search for them. Instead of complaining and whimpering about comic book shops not having Black comic books, do yourself a favor and look for it. Seek and you shall find. Happy Hunting!! -Richard J Wright