Introduction to Race Issues and The Last Airbender Film
November 20th, 2009 | Published in Background
by June, Racebending.com staff
Racebending is not just about Avatar: The Last Airbender. It is a complex controversy that touches on many issues regarding Asian Americans and race in general – and it can be confusing to explain it to your friends and family. Thankfully, Racebending.com hosts a well-rounded compendium of resources, including interviews, videos, and articles, that can help.
The Primer
First, a quick introduction to the controversy is The Last Airbender Primer, which includes side-by-side comparisons between the Avatar cartoon characters and the children who were cast for the film.
The Binder
The comparisons can also be found in the Racebending visual binder, which is most useful to volunteers who are out canvassing, but can be useful to all.
The binder presents statistics showing the disparity between the reality of Asian Americans and their representation in the industry. For example, 40% of American children are ethnic minorities, but how many of “The Last Airbender” heroes are ethnic minorities? None. Other studies, like the ones done by the Asian American Justice Center, also show the invisibility of Asian Americans. Out of all the prime-time television shows, only 16 Asian Americans were featured as regulars. If television represented actual U.S. populations, there should have been at least 28. What kind of message does this send our children, when they do not see people like them on television or film?
A History of Yellowface
Another great resource is the history of yellowface in film.
Without seeing this history, it can be difficult to understand why the casting of Avatar is problematic. Many people have heard of “blackface” and its roots in black oppression and find it completely unacceptable, but most do not understand yellowface in the same way.
Even The Screen Actors’ Guild acknowledges this. In SAG’s 60th Anniversary issue of the Screen Actor Magazine, Sumi Haru, former Guild recording secretary said, “Today producers would not dare to put an actor in black face, but the other ethnic groups have not completely won the right to play themselves.” Having people understand that both are equally undermining of our rights is important.
Racebending Videos
The Racebending team has also created video resources for those interested in spreading the word that way. One great example was filmed at 2009’s San Diego Comic-Con. The video shows interviews of Racebending.com volunteers and industry professionals and includes a great explanation of why The Last Airbender movie protest/boycott is important. (direct youtube link)
These are a few of the resources you can find at Racebending.com to get you started on educating your friends about Avatar: The Last Airbender and other Asian American issues. Awareness and education is the first step in making change happen in the entertainment industry, and Racebending.com is a great resource to help spread the word.
