A New Biracial Spider-Man!
Ok, there’s been quite a buzz lately about the new Spider-man and some are excited, but many are wondering, why didn’t Marvel just create a new Black super hero or a Latino super hero, and why mixed? Why Spider-man? For me, it’s pretty obvious, and it’s not all about marketing, although I’m sure that factored into their decision to actually run with the idea. Being the mom of a biracial Latina daughter, I recognize the huge milestone we’re setting. Until now, there have been very few faces like my daughter’s in the mainstream media…still waiting on that Latina princess Disney!
Now I get everyone’s point…let’s not steal the white characters…let’s promote our own characters and develop their stories. That’s all fine and good, but who will buy those stories? Who’s been buying the stories of the other comic characters of color now? *crickets* Seriously though…who’s buying them? Plain and simple, we need a strong, well-known, well-loved character to bring white audiences in and show them why a multiracial Spider-man can be just as awesome as the original! Sure, they’ll miss Peter Parker, sure…some whites will protest, but in the end…their kids will grow up seeing a multiracial Spider-man and he’ll be on every supermarket shelf in America, right there in plain sight! How many brown super heroes can we say that about…honestly?
I’m loving the new Spidey makeover! It’s long overdue in my opinion, but the timing makes sense. Just think, 3 years ago we wouldn’t have imagined a Black president! Like Spider-man, that gig was reserved for white guys only…but now, our children will have the opportunity to picture a variety of individuals in the Oval Office. Why? Because it’s a prominent position, Obama’s face is all over the news, his words hang in the very air we breathe, his presence has become a part of the fabric of America. A new image that demonstrates what it means to be American…America’s face isn’t just white anymore…it’s brown too!
This new Spidey isn’t just a marketing ploy, it’s a huge opportunity to see brown faces in the most reserved and coveted positions of this nation. Like our president, Spidey will become a piece of the fabric, a face of America, a symbol of our increasing diversity. He will be a brown face that makes it to mainstream and normalizes color in America. And if we’re lucky, one day…brown won’t seem “foreign” anymore.
© 2011 – 2012, Chantilly Patiño. All rights reserved.
I love it! (but you already knew that… LOL!) I totally agree with you–we need this mainstream, well-known hero to pave the way for more heroes of color! I hope the makers of girl-stuff (Disney and Mattel for starters!) see the huge impact Miles is having and decide to make some more brown girl heroines. It’s time for all kids to see themselves as heroes!
Brilliant! That would be awesome! Obama may not be “getting it all done” with the political forces he’s up against…but we can be sure, he’s putting a brown face to America! Love that he’s our president…the first in a long time with a true humanitarian character. And I absolutely love the brown faces that are making it to mainstream since he took office. Right there with you amiga…we need brown girl heroes! ;)
We need it like we need water… I heard about this thought it is awesome.
Definitely! This is long over due! So glad for it. :)
I love it and think that we’ll see a lot more diversity in what comes out of toy companies because of it. Finally! Regarding Obama, what I’m waiting for, now, is a Latina, or biracial female president. I believe we’ll see this in our lifetime. Mindsets are changing, albeit slowly, but they’re changing. That’s cause to celebrate. :D
Ezzy, you’re so right and I didn’t think of the toys…but definitely, I’m sure this will change things! :) I’m excited at the possibility of a Latina president too…and since electing Obama, I really have hopes about that. <3
I think it’s great that Spidey is taking the step to represent what America looks like. I don’t mind that he’s mixed because as we know there are so many mixed race Americans. Great post.
Thanks for stopping by! Yeah, I think this Spidey actually makes more sense…I mean c’mon…he lives in NY! LOL! They gotta get some diversity in! ;)
Hi Chantilly! It’s been a while since I “dropped” by. Found out how to view posts in my google reader so I was able to “see” your blog, which had been a while. You have made a few tweaks and it looks great! Particularly I like your tag line. Am going through a massive change on my end and am hoping to reveal within the next month. From one bi-cultural mom to another!
BTW…had a major eye-opener last weekend to cultural differences and am trying to figure out how to blog about it without potentially offending. How do you find a way around it? Quite a few of my husband’s family might read my blog so I want to tread carefully…
Blessings
Hi Chantilly! It’s been a while since I “dropped” by. Found out how to view posts in my google reader so I was able to “see” your blog, which had been a while. You have made a few tweaks and it looks great! Particularly I like your tag line. Am going through a massive change on my end and am hoping to reveal within the next month. From one bi-cultural mom to another!
BTW…had a major eye-opener last weekend to cultural differences and am trying to figure out how to blog about it without potentially offending. How do you find a way around it? Quite a few of my husband’s family might read my blog so I want to tread carefully…
Blessings
Hey chica!! Long time no “read”…lol! It’s been a while! Yeah, I haven’t been over lately either…I’ll have to drop in. ;) So excited to see what changes you have in store and I’ll definitely have to subscribe to your blog and catch up on what I’ve missed!
As far as talking about cultural differences without offending, I think the best thing is to write what you feel, get it all out and then wait on it a day or two before publishing. When it’s an emotional topic and you want to be sure you’re not getting too touchy, ask your hubby or a friend to give a second opinion or try to think about it from another perspective. It almost always works for me! ;) Good luck! <3