Does it matter that little Tony is black?

[Cristina Chifane]

I think it's nice that Toni is African American, because we need more children's books with non-European American characters. I'm not sure that the immediate interpretation of Toni's "superpowers" would be to assume that he doesn't really have superpowers because he's black. I think the overall moral here is that you don't need "superpowers" to be a superhero. You just have to be there for your family and friends, both at work and play.

Great point here! Thanks for your answer.

[Cristina Chifane]

That is an interesting question. When I first read it, I was pleased that Tony was dark-skinned because I was reading the story with the perspective that ordinary things can be heroic. I thought that it showed diversity and promoted positive self-image. Taken from the opposite perspective that superheroes do ordinary things, it does seem that it would be saying that since he is dark-skinned he can only do ordinary things and cannot do things that are heroic. I think that the author's intention was a positive one which encourages children. However, taken out of context, it could be used as a way to discourage some children.

It's sad that we look at children's books this way. If it was a light-skinned child depicted, we would not have questioned the intention and would have assumed it was to encourage children. Although, we would have been upset that a light-skinned child was depicted when there is not enough diversity in children's books. When a dark-skinned child is depicted, we flip the intention so that it seems to be discouraging.

I feel that it is up to us as parents and caregivers to make sure that it is interpreted in a positive light when we are reading it with our children. In the fertile soil of a child's mind, if we plant tolerance and acceptance, we will reap tolerance and acceptance. If we plant hatred and racism, we will reap hatred and racism.
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Thanks for your wonderful appeal to tolerance and acceptance.

[Cristina Chifane]

I also wondered if Toni will have superpowers (and super villains) in future books, I did not consider the racial impact. This is mostly because I think that the age group the book is geared towards would not perceive the book like that. However, I am from the Caribbean, and I grew up reading books in primary school with varying shades of brown to black characters.Therefore the color of Toni was not really something that grabbed my attention. I think, however, that the lesson that is learned by the child reading this book, will be shaped by the adults surrounding the child. So, that if the black child asks whether Toni has superpowers, the answer he/she receives from that adult is what will either break or solidify the stereotype of only white children having superpowers.

You're perfectly right about that. Besides, I've closely studied children's literature and I know the important role adults play in selecting the books children read in the first place. Think of editors, publishers, parents, teachers, librarians, etc.

[Cristina Chifane]

I'm bit sure that it so much matters that he is black but it is a nice change to see a superhero of color.

Thanks for your answer. I'm also happy to see a superhero of color who undermines the superhero myth although I was worried the message could be two-forked.

[Cristina Chifane]

Christinaro - Interesting question! I didn't view it as black kids can only do ordinary things while the superpowers belong to the white kids. For me, the story showed that important people (superheroes) still do ordinary activities and chores like everyone else.

I agree with you 100%.

Glad that you see things this way.

[Kelebogile Mbangi]

Tony is a jovial little black kid always with a broad smile on his face. He is engaged in the typical activities of a kid his age.

Is he meant to defy the superhero stereotype especially since he does not seem to be doing anything extraordinary?
Did you feel the book undermines the myth of the white superhero and carries a message of inter-racial tolerance?

My fear is the message could be exactly the opposite. Little black kids can only do ordinary things like helping their mother, sweeping the floor or dusting the furniture. The superpowers still belong to the little white kids. I am wondering if Tony will actually have some superpowers in the next books of the series. What do you think?

I would also be worried if this was the message that the book ingrained in the minds of black children. It's amazing how complicated a simple story can become.

You're right about that. At first I was quite taken by surprise with this book becoming BOTM. I was also amazed to discover how many positive reviews it received. I asked myself why this happened. I guess my questions reflect my confusion. I have studied child psychology for a while and maybe this is the reason why I have some reservations about this book in terms of organization and content.

Ah... This explains your question, you really thought deeply about this. It didn't cross my mind at all but I see your point now. I still think its a great book though.

[Cristina Chifane]

@cristinaro, Thanks for the comment and recommendation of that book; I hadn't heard of Black Skins, White Masks.

As for my terminology, my other half has a real aversion to "black", so I've gotten in the habit of using other words due to him, but I have no personal feelings about any of the descriptors, myself.

Thanks for your answer. Perhaps I should also have an aversion to "white", considering all the things white people did throughout history. I can thus understand an aversion to "black". It really helps me to see so many different answers; it makes me see things from multiple perspectives.

I find it interesting that his aversion is to the word black. I have a friend who does not like to be referred to as "African-American" because she is not from Africa. I get where she is coming from because I don't really feel like European-American is a good descriptor for me. Sure that's where my ancestors came from, but none of them were alive at any point in my life so it's hard to relate to that heritage.

I'm not averse to any term just because other people who have don't abhorrent things can also fit the same descriptor. There are lots of women who have done deplorable things, but I'm not disowning the classification of female.

Each person is unique and many people, good and bad, fit into the various categories we can use to classify people. Maybe we should just say "people" and not even go any further than that. There was a point in history in the US where women were fighting for their rights as much as colored people were fighting for theirs.

Ok, I"m ending my soapbox rant. This question just bothers me because I never even noticed that Toni is a colored child. I wouldn't want my kids to notice either. I would just want them to see him as another kid.

I can understand why you are bothered by the question although any kind of question does not bother me at all. I can't pretend the past does not exist and I can't stop myself from making various associations and analysing things from multiple perspectives. I always love debates and asking people controversial questions to see how they react or think. Thanks for your passionate answers and comments. I most certainly understand your point-of-view and I also dream of a multi/intercultural world where everybody is equal to everybody. Reality taught me many other things, though. One of them is that representation matters and one needs to treat it cautiously and take various factors into consideration.

[Cristina Chifane]

Thanks for your answer. Perhaps I should also have an aversion to "white", considering all the things white people did throughout history. I can thus understand an aversion to "black". It really helps me to see so many different answers; it makes me see things from multiple perspectives.

I find it interesting that his aversion is to the word black. I have a friend who does not like to be referred to as "African-American" because she is not from Africa. I get where she is coming from because I don't really feel like European-American is a good descriptor for me. Sure that's where my ancestors came from, but none of them were alive at any point in my life so it's hard to relate to that heritage.

His aversion to "black" is two-fold. One, many of us are more a shade of brown or tan or, as in my case, peach, than actually black, like most (?) Caucasians are closer to peach-colored than actually "white". Second, "black" is often used to denote bad things, like the bad guys in westerns always wear black, and it's the color used in phrases like "black sheep" and "black market", among others.

I am somewhat like your friend; while I won't go so far as to say that I "hate" it, "African-American" is my least favorite of the terms, for the same reason...I guess I do prefer "person of color" since the spectrum runs wide and not everyone is brown or tan or even peach. I also use "melanated" a lot, though I don't think I went quite that far in my review.

I love the word "melanated". Seeing your answer I've read a very interesting article about the melanated people's relationship with the sun. It seems like there's quite a scientific explanation connecting the skin color to the kind of energy we get from the sun. Thanks for your answers.

[Cristina Chifane]

I never once thought about race when reading this book and honestly don't think it pertains to it. This is just an introduction to Toni doing normal things that kids do. Later on in the series he will do superhero things.

I'm also very curious about the next books in the series.

[Cristina Chifane]

Christinaro - Interesting question! I didn't view it as black kids can only do ordinary things while the superpowers belong to the white kids. For me, the story showed that important people (superheroes) still do ordinary activities and chores like everyone else.

This is the best view. I also believe that this could be the author's intent. Kids may not have a lot of big things they can do so as to appear great and be superheroes. I think being encouraged to do this small chores is a way of encouraging them to do small things as they also do count.

I also want to see children understanding the importance of ordinary things, but I also love to see them dream of the impossible, believe in miracles and the power of their imagination to reach the unreachable and change the world.

[Cristina Chifane]

I believe that Tony can be a superhero even though he his black, it is not be about the completion maybe black or white. It is about personal believe and determination.

I agree with you. Thanks for your answer.

[Cristina Chifane]

How about mixing the roles of little black kid to make it more interesting because with ordinary issues the book will not be interesting

What's your opinion of the book? Is it interesting or not? Would you pick it up among many other books for children in a bookstore?

[Cristina Chifane]

Christinaro - Interesting question! I didn't view it as black kids can only do ordinary things while the superpowers belong to the white kids. For me, the story showed that important people (superheroes) still do ordinary activities and chores like everyone else.

I Agree with you, too. I also noticed Toni's race, but I just ignored it.

I don't think we can just ignore it. It's something that can be discussed as the answers here prove it.

[Cristina Chifane]

Children are children. Color is their nature. They are not choosing their color. Most adults see these color.

At the risk of repeating myself, growing up in a multicultural environment is quite different from growing up in an all white, all black or all asian cultural environment.

[Cristina Chifane]

Tony is a jovial little black kid always with a broad smile on his face. He is engaged in the typical activities of a kid his age.

Is he meant to defy the superhero stereotype especially since he does not seem to be doing anything extraordinary?
Did you feel the book undermines the myth of the white superhero and carries a message of inter-racial tolerance?

My fear is the message could be exactly the opposite. Little black kids can only do ordinary things like helping their mother, sweeping the floor or dusting the furniture. The superpowers still belong to the little white kids. I am wondering if Tony will actually have some superpowers in the next books of the series. What do you think?

Until this post, the race never even crossed my mind, nor do I think it crosses young children's minds. I don't think Toni doing ordinary things meant to show him as inferior but instead being relatable to young children and showing good values!

I can only be happy if this is the message the book sends.