You've probably already seen the trailer for the new movie about a superhero called
The Spirit. I looks like it might be interesting or so I thought until I did a little digging. In case you don't know,
Will Eisner's The Spirit is a noir crime drama about a masked crimefighter of the same name that first showed up in the 1940s. What does that have to do with Black Superheroes?
READ MORE...Well, The Spirit had a young sidekick and driver by the name of
Ebony White. He was basically the stereotypical black-faced, dim-witted minstrel with big white eyes, big lips, and that embarrassing Negro dialect. Over the years the character became more intelligent and more than just the Spirit's driver. He had no special abilities other than being (ultimately) clever, brave, and loyal to the Spirit. Ebony White saved the Spirit's life on multiple occasions and became quite helpful to the character. The portrayal of this character was not without some criticism however and ultimately he was sent away to school in 1946 though he did return on occasion.
When you look back at the portrayal of Black people in comics, it's impossible not to look at Ebony White or other more embarrassing depictions. It would be about 20 years later when Black Superheroes would show up in comics as near equals to their White counterparts. Thankfully, comics and the world have changed.
In 2007, The Spirit saw a return to comics and with that return, so came Ebony White who is no longer the buffoon or stereotypical character he was portrayed to be in the past. He's still a kid that drives a cab but is much more intelligent and inciteful than his previous incarnation and even look's like a real Black child. Apparently his character will not be showing up in the
big screen adaptation of The Spirit currently in theaters this Christmas but perhaps in the sequel, if there is one.
2 comments:
Good job on the research. Not being familiar with the Spirit, this information is a surprise to me but based on when this comic got started, it's not unexpected.
I was always surprised how Jewish artist that were kind of outcast themselves would make fun of black people in comics and films. And the excuse it was the times doesn't hold water because if it is wrong now it was wrong then. The same way gay people are being treated today
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