When Racism Becomes the Norm

When watching the news, we can expect the topic of racism to be brought up like clockwork. Day after day, week after week, month after month we turn on our best friend, the T.V., and find that racism plagues our surroundings. This is pretty normal. It shouldn't be, but that is just the way it is. But what happens when you start seeing it on your favorite television show, movie, or book. Didn't expect that , did you?

Everyone has heard of the Lone Ranger, popular western themed television show. We remember all the criminals brought to justice, the guns ablazing, and of course, the humor. But what we don't remember is that this show exhibits an underlying tone of racism. The name itself connotes an idea of racial prejudice. Even though there are two main characters in the show, Tonto and the masked man, they make it sound as though Tonto, a Native American man, doesn't exist. Another example from this show that demonstrates racial bigotry is in the first episode. The masked man calls Tonto "his loyal and faithful companion" (The Lone Ranger). A person would normally use this terminology towards a dog, showing the exact feelings the Lone Ranger has for Tonto.

Photo of the Lone Ranger

For decades, people with a sweet tooth have flocked to the classic, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but there is something in that novel that isn't very sweet. Racism. It manifests itself in the Oompa-loompas. In early editions of the book, the small but loveable characters were depicted as slaves, taken from their home country and brought to work "happily" in a factory. Especially for children with slave ancestors, these ideas could be potentially harmful.

In the end, when either going to the book, or to the screen for a source of entertainment, make sure you aren't contributing to the spread of racism.

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