Diversity in the Avengers

[randomengine]

I personally hate forced diversity. Statistically, there are minorities everywhere, but also statistically there are groups that can form randomly that are all the same ethinicity, minority or not.

Whatever the final roster of the Avengers happens to be, I really hope the community doesn't go into full on nerdrage because there isn't a black character on the team.

Whatever characters are picked, I know they were chosen for the good of the story. In the end that is what it should be about, not some deference to statistics or some misplaced need to make sure minorities (or majorities) are represented.

[Hrist]

It's nice how often if a team is 100% white it's because "it was the best team possible" and if there are minorities present it's because of tokenism, only to fill some imaginary quota, and not because those minority characters are just as deserving and heroic as the white ones.

[Kid Kamikaze10]

It's nice how often if a team is 100% white it's because "it was the best team possible" and if there are minorities present it's because of tokenism, only to fill some imaginary quota, and not because those minority characters are just as deserving and heroic as the white ones.

Ding ding ding...

We have a winner!


OP, you lost me at "forced diversity".

[4sake]

It's nice how often if a team is 100% white it's because "it was the best team possible" and if there are minorities present it's because of tokenism, only to fill some imaginary quota, and not because those minority characters are just as deserving and heroic as the white ones.

Ding ding ding...

We have a winner!

Cosigned..

OP, you lost me at "forced diversity".

Lost me with the thread title...

[randomengine]

What else do you call it when you add characters to a team to fill a quota?

I don't know how many times I have seen threads complaining about a team that doesn't have enough diversity. The writer choses the characters he wants to write.

Those persons advocating more minority characters are trying to "force" diversity.

[stewart48]

It's nice how often if a team is 100% white it's because "it was the best team possible" and if there are minorities present it's because of tokenism, only to fill some imaginary quota, and not because those minority characters are just as deserving and heroic as the white ones.

I used Token to describe Luke's history as the guy from the streets who started out rough but later becomes an inspirational leader to a group of deginerates looking for redemption in an earlier post in a thunderbolts forum. I've gotten the feeling thats become a racially charged word. I mean token can mean something besides race, but I guess token black guy has become too common of a term.

[Will.S]

I'd like to see Firebird, Living Lightning, Falcon, and Monica Rambeau join the ranks again. We haven't seen them on the Avengers in ages (well for Falcon just during the Johns run).

[Hrist]

I used Token to describe Luke's history as the guy from the streets who started out rough but later becomes an inspirational leader to a group of deginerates looking for redemption in an earlier post in a thunderbolts forum. I've gotten the feeling thats become a racially charged word. I mean token can mean something besides race, but I guess token black guy has become too common of a term.

Well, "token black guy" tends to mean, "only there because of skin color." It's an insulting term to have apply to you. Sort of like, "you only got this job because you're a woman." Luke Cage is an Avenger and the new focal point of the Thunderbolts because he is a guy who started out rough but who cleaned up his act, worked hard, started a family, and can maybe help others find redemption as well. There's nothing token about it.

[IronMagnus]

Diversity involves a heck of alot more than just skin color. I want to see more diverse religious affiliations, more diverse political views, etc.

[Joe Franklin]

Through all the years the Avengers have been published by Marvel, there have always been all white guy lineups in the book at different times. No big deal either way.

[ingenuus]

What else do you call it when you add characters to a team to fill a quota?

and how do you know they are trying to fill a quota exactly?

I don't know how many times I have seen threads complaining about a team that doesn't have enough diversity. The writer choses the characters he wants to write.

you are cracking me up!

Those persons advocating more minority characters are trying to "force" diversity.

"those persons?" what do you mean "those persons?"

[dreyga2000]

Diversity involves a heck of alot more than just skin color. I want to see more diverse religious affiliations, more diverse political views, etc.

Ex. Norse God, WW2 Veteran, Playboy Indutsrailist, Mentally Distrubed Scientist, Ditzy Socialite, Arrognat Ex-Con, Gyspy Witch, Ex-Terroist

The Avengers are the most diverse super-team in comic books...

[Zolton]

The only black Avengers I think are "worthy" are Black Panther (because he's awesome) and War Machine (because he's awesome).

Cage is a street level guy, like Daredevil, who I'd never want to see as an Avenger either.

[RolandJP]

Through all the years the Avengers have been published by Marvel, there have always been all white guy lineups in the book at different times. No big deal either way.

I agree. But every single time a writer wants to put a non-anglo on an Avengers team it becomes an issue.

Tell me when will it be okay to include a minority on the team? next year? 15 years from now? how about 60?

Or will a character be called token no matter how worthy?

I think those that have a problem with diversity. Will always have a problem.

Forced Diversity?? Is an Oxymoron. Especially in the US. The great Melting pot.

[Post-It]

What else do you call it when you add characters to a team to fill a quota?

I don't know how many times I have seen threads complaining about a team that doesn't have enough diversity. The writer choses the characters he wants to write.

Those persons advocating more minority characters are trying to "force" diversity.

This thread will not end well. But while its here lets have fun

So if I understand this thread your issue is not with minority characters but rather against forcing writers to include characters they don't want?

So hypothetically you would support Bendis if he decided to write a monthly series that just happened to feature only minority avengers? (by minority I mean non-European).