@Raptornx01 @MattOrtega Look, this really isn't rocket science. The problem isn't white children having Black role models. Hell, yes, they should! The problem is in the perception that Blackness is such a fundamental difference that you can't be a Black superhero without changing your skin color. 1/
@Raptornx01 @MattOrtega 2/ By assuming that skin color is an independent, defining characteristic while other characteristics like gender, language, age, fitness, etc. aren't, we communicate to our children that to whites, Blacks are an Other, different than them. That's the beginning of racism.
@Raptornx01 @MattOrtega 3/ Here's a black kid playing Superman. He's having a great time, even though he hasn't covered his face with white pancake. No problem! 
@Raptornx01 @MattOrtega 4/ Here's a white kid playing the Black superhero, Frozone. No blackface. He's still Frozone. It's all good.
@Raptornx01 @MattOrtega 5/ Here's an Asian kid playing Robin. I didn't know Robin was Asian! But I don't think he needs eyelid surgery or rhinoplasty to pull it off.
@Raptornx01 @MattOrtega 6/ Next, a woman playing a male superhero, Frozone --without stuffing a sock in her crotch or binding her breasts. And an obese man playing Batman, without wearing a corset to trim that waist. Again, it's all good!
@Raptornx01 @MattOrtega 7/ Ooh, here's a mammal dressed as a shark! I'm not sure it's really convincing unless he has sandpapery skin, do you? Does RiteAid carry sandpaper makeup?
@Raptornx01 @MattOrtega 8/ So YES, we should encourage white kids to have black role models, including superheroes -- just as we should encourage white adults to have black role models. But all they need to do it is a cape made of a bathtowel and a safety pin, not blackface.
@Raptornx01 @MattOrtega 9/ After all, I don't need to change my skin to try to emulate MLK or Thurgood Marshall or Nelson Mandela. Nor do white kids who pretend they're LeBron James when shooting hoops, or copy Serena Williams when practicing their tennis serve. ...
@Raptornx01 @MattOrtega 10/10 After all, the REAL point of encouraging a kid to dress as a superhero is to affirm that they, JUST AS THEY ARE, just exactly WHO THEY ARE, are capable of great things. THAT'S the point. So let their essential selves shine through! The world will be better that way. /rant
