You're confused. Treating two things differently doesn't mean double standard. I buy more tampons for my daughter and more bandaids for my son. That doesn't mean I'm not using one principle: Give my kids what they need - and applying it to both of them equally for different results.
The principle many people apply to superheroes is "Representation." They feel that superheroes should reflect us, and that is why they have similar emotions to us, similar problems, similar jobs. They notice, then, that superheroes don't have similar ethnicities to us. While nearly 40% of people in America are not white. Only 10-20% of superheroes are not white, and the disparity gets even larger when you consider white characters are figured much more prominently and often and respectfully than minority characters. So if I apply the principle of Representation to comics, then changing white characters to blacks supports Representation but changing black characters to white does not.
Now, if you don't believe in representation, that's fine, but it's ignorant to call it a double standard.
It is a double stanbdard when you would gladly suport someone else's favorite character being changed to satisfy someone else (yourself) but would not approve of your favorite character being changed to satisfy them.
I would like to see more 'representation' in hiphop/rap music. I would like to see more representation in the NBA. Unfortunately, every microcosm of life soes not proportionally represent the whole. And to expect them to is beyond ignorant.
One problem with your analogy (actually there are a few) is that your daughter doesn't get tampons at your son's expense. I have no problem with 'representation' per se. But there are two ways to realize representation: change white characters to black characters OR create more black characters. Ithink it is funny how, in order to have a better proportional representation of society, some people would rather they change a bunch of characters' races than to actually be creative and come up with some new ones. It might be easy for you to say 'well, there aren't proportionally enough black comic book characters so the man should change some of the white charatcers black' using your argument for support which simultaneously protects you from having to see your favorite black characters' race changed. But every character is someone's favorite. And appeasing you would come at their expense. To think that they wouldn't/shouldn't mind seeing that is ignorant. To think them being upset about it would have to be for racist reasons is worse.
There's a difference between wanting representation and EXPECTING representation. It sounds like some feel Marvel/Hollywood should feel OBLIGATED to provide them with more black characters and it smacks of entitlement.
Many years ago, white men created the comic book industry. They created characters and wrote their stories. They even created the black characters you read today. NOw people feel entitled to take those established characters and see them changed for no other reason than to satisfy their own sense of 'right' with 'representation'. Sadly what most fail to realize is that historically, black characters are not financially sustainable in comics. I read Luke Cage growing up. I thought the comic was great but unfortunately the mag didn't sell well enough to justify Marvel keeping it in production. And the same has been true with Black Panther many times over.
Again I have no problem with representation. I don't even care if they create enough successful black characters that they are OVER-represented in comics. Just let it be done in a creative way (you know, like all the great characters were) instead of the lazy 'let's-just-change-the-race-of-this-character' manner.
BUt here's an idea (since so many think it is a good way to go): let's throw a bone to those that are REALLY under-represented and have the FF be made up of: A Japanese Reed, MUslim Arab Ben, Latino Johnny (we already had that with Sue) and East Indian Susan. That is a formula for success right there!
GTFOH
