Racism as a topic has been trending for quite sometime now. People are arguing to change the mentality, to promote equality of races amongst ourselves. However, one of the main question that crosses one's mind is, when does one actually start to believe that white is superior and black is inferior?
Obviously it's from childhood, the plastic days of one's life, kids will take up anything you teach them. And what are kids most exposed to? Of course, cartoons. And these cartoons, are to some extent, really racist. How you may ask?
Well, let's take the first example of Chotta Bheem. This beloved character, strong, kind, loving, saving everyone from their misery, is the hero. He and his friends are all portrayed as white. However, the guys who are "evil" or just causing chaos in the village, Kalia as the name suggests is of darker complexion, is fat (a bit of body shaming too) and his side kicks, Dholu and Bholu are too, of darker complexion. This in itself forms the idea in the child's mind, as black or dark is synonymous to bad or evil.
Let's see another example. So, according to our very own mythology, Lord Rama and Krishna are specifically described as "Neela Megha Syama" clearly points to the fact that they were of dark complexion. However, in most of the cartoons if you see Lord Rama is portrayed as someone who is as fair as milk, Lord Krishna though is shown as blue, but they are never ever shown in their actual complexions. Isn't this a deliberate attempt at selling the fact to the kids that only if you have a fair complexion, it's then you are considered as pretty or beautiful?
Now the child grows up, starts watching movies and what does he find? Well, the heroes are majority of the times, a fair complexioned guy. And who is he fighting against? Oh look, a black guy! Most of the time a South Indian black guy. Another portrayal of racism served. The content creators are to blame for this brainwashing that goes on from an early age. Even characters of darker complexion are depicted after actors who make themselves darker by makeup for that role.
Let's have a look at the other Asian countries now. In 2016, an extremely racist advertisement was made in China, where a black guy was literally washed in a specific detergent and made white. It was shown widely, until it got the backlash. There isn't really much left to explain about this anymore, any person with a bit of sense will understand what's wrong with the whole thing.
Now there is anime. On careful observation, how many animes are there in which a black character is actually the main protagonist? Hardly a few. How many black characters have extremely important role in some anime series or movies? Again, a few. It is true that there population mainly consists of white people, but that doesn't mean that black people don't exist at all. They do so, everywhere.
All over the US, people are fighting for Black Lives Matter and racism. People are being educated on this topic, they are unlearning racist ways, adopting to the way humans should behave with another human whatever his complexion maybe. However, here in India, we being people of colour, are we actually educated on racism? We, who should be rejecting the notion of people being judged on their complexion, aren't we all just accepting and making it our way of life? Just ask these questions the next time before you make fun of a black person, or share that meme asking to tag your friend to marry a black person.
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