海角大神

The 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� franchise鈥檚 sometimes problematic history with race has always been unfortunate and ironic.

The most recognizable voice from the stories is that of a Black man, a legacy that proudly continues. And yet, when the face of that villain was revealed decades ago, we saw the face of a white man. Looking back on it today, James Earl Jones鈥� voice matched with Sebastian Shaw鈥檚 face felt like a twisted prequel of 鈥淕et Out,鈥� the satirical horror film where Black people鈥檚 minds and bodies are suppressed and subverted by white people.

Walt Disney Studios had a chance to rectify this sordid space history in 2015 with 鈥淪tar Wars: Episode VII 鈥� The Force Awakens.鈥� John Boyega, an up-and-coming actor, starred as Finn and wowed casual fans with his fresh face and wit. We saw a glimpse of his potential and his joy as he viewed himself in the trailer for 鈥淭he Force Awakens.鈥� We saw the look in his eye as the preview progressed, and then he saw himself with a lightsaber. His reaction was palpable, the type of reaction a child might have when he sees the flash from a toy sword for the first time. It was a sign that things might change in the 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� universe.

And then, just as quickly, the 鈥渄ark side鈥� appeared 鈥� specifically, the ugliness of fan backlash. Some were angry with the Jedi-to-be鈥檚 chemistry with Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, who is white; some were angry with his presence overall.聽

That was seven years ago, and as the new 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� series, 鈥淥bi-Wan Kenobi,鈥� premiered on Disney+ at the end of May, it looked like some things might never change when a racist faction of fans attacked Moses Ingram and her role as the villainous Reva.

This time, the universe spoke, via the official Instagram and聽Twitter accounts for 鈥淪tar Wars鈥�: 鈥淲e are proud to welcome Moses Ingram to the Star Wars family and excited for Reva鈥檚 story to unfold. If anyone intends to make her feel in any way unwelcome, we have only one thing to say: we resist.鈥�

Adding in a subsequent tweet, 鈥淭here are more than 20 million sentient species in the Star Wars galaxy, don鈥檛 choose to be a racist.鈥�

It was a deliberate and different commentary, even in an age where protest is perpetual. It goes without saying that Mr. Boyega鈥檚 circumstances, which he outlined in Britain鈥檚 incarnation of GQ, likely factored into Disney鈥檚 rebuke of fan hatred. (The recent online bullying of Kelly Marie Tran, an Asian actor, may also have played a role.)

鈥淚鈥檓 the only cast member who had their own unique experience of that franchise based on their race,鈥� Mr. Boyega told the publication. 鈥淚t makes you angry with a process like that. It makes you much more militant; it changes you. Because you realise, 鈥業 got given this opportunity but I鈥檓 in an industry that wasn鈥檛 even ready for me.鈥� Nobody else in the cast had people saying they were going to boycott the movie because [they were in it]. Nobody else had the uproar and death threats sent to their Instagram DMs and social media, saying, 鈥楤lack this and black that and you shouldn鈥檛 be a Stormtrooper.鈥� Nobody else had that experience.鈥�

Certainly, there have been Black characters in the 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� canon 鈥� Mace Windu and Lando Calrissian come to mind. The concern for Black fans of the series is the second-fiddle roles that those characters have played. Windu, who was played by Samuel L. Jackson, was poised to thwart the Dark Side in 鈥淪tar Wars: Episode III 鈥� Revenge of the Sith鈥� until Anakin Skywalker made his shocking heel turn. Calrissian, played by Billy Dee Williams in the earlier 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� films, and by Donald Glover in 鈥淪olo: A Star Wars Story,鈥� had a reputation as a trickster, and even with his hero turn, still was a largely misinterpreted character.

The challenge for 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� moving forward is to continue in this path of character development and critical rebuke of racism. The conscientious words of key figures in the latest series are important. And yet, we understand that wide-scale change happens when corporations change. It is fitting that Ms. Ingram would speak about the racism she has endured with defiance, yet lament, 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing anybody can do about this. There鈥檚 nothing anybody can do to stop this hate. ... But I think the thing that bothers me is ... this feeling that I鈥檝e had inside of myself 鈥� which no one has told me 鈥� but this feeling that I鈥檝e just got to shut up and take it. That I鈥檝e just got to grin and bear it. And I鈥檓 not built like that.鈥�

It shouldn鈥檛 be her problem to bear at all, much less alone. It鈥檚 the universe鈥檚 problem. Silence is consent, and in the vacuum of space, that silence has been deafening.聽There is something we can do about this. The quick and supportive official response to the hate, and more importantly, Mr. Boyega鈥檚 commentary, are good starting points.

In the face of this all-too-familiar scourge of the galaxy, it鈥檚 time to build something different. Not just characters, but character.

Ken Makin is the host of the 鈥淢akin鈥� A Difference鈥� podcast.