Poll: What Do You Think of Supergirl's Black Jimmy Olsen?
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Supergirl (2016) - James Olsen (Mehcad Brooks), Kara (Melissa Benoist) |
James Bartholomew "Jimmy" Olsen has always been a bow tie-wearing teenage redhead, so this is a huge departure. Here's the thing though. People are getting way too upset about this. Some are saying that it ruins the whole show and that Jimmy Olsen is they're favorite character. Really? While Jimmy has been in every iteration of Superman, the stand-alone Jimmy Olsen comic, Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen hasn't been around since 1974. No one cares about Jimmy by himself. Plus, he hasn't been a redhead in decades. In fact, he's been everything from a gorilla to an octopus, so this isn't that big a change.
Another complaint is that they should have brought in another Black character instead of race-changing an existing one. It's a valid point. There are tons of great Black DC characters from John Irons (Steel) to
The other exciting thing everyone is missing is that he's supposed to be Kara's love interest. That means a major television show is going to feature an interracial romance between a White girl and a Black man! That's exciting! If they'd cast Jimmy as a geeky teenager it would be more faithful, but it would weaken the relationship. Let her be in love with a strong Black man that's not a gangster rapper. Not that there's anything wrong with an urban character, but it's refreshing to see other types of minorities represented. It's odd that they did a major change to an existing character, but it's not going to ruin the show.
What do you think?
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Supergirl
Official Synopsis: "It's not a bird. It's not a plane. It's not a man. It's Supergirl. In the new drama from the world of DC Comics, Superman's cousin, Kara Zor-El, embraces her superhuman abilities and becomes the hero she was always meant to be."
Starring Melissa Benoist, Chyler Leigh, Calista Flockhart, Jeremy Jordan, and Mehcad Brooks
Official Site: http://www.cbs.com/shows/supergirl/
What do you think of Jimmy Olsen? Does it make sense to change his race?
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I'm all for it - mostly because 1) not a lot of black guys as love interests 2) black professional. Jimmy's contribution has been the kid who's been there in the background. Race isn't a part of his factor, just that he was a photographer. It's hard to gauge who Jimmy will be in this show- but it's obvious that he's older. I've known plenty of geeky young men who grew up into smooth (but still incredibly geeky) guys.
ReplyDelete(Also, I think you meant someone else - Monica Rambeau's a Marvel character, though I'm DYING for her to show up somewhere in the MCU. Maybe you meant Vixen?)
I have no problem with it.
ReplyDeleteMe either Alex
ReplyDeleteLOL you're right about the rookie mistake Whitney! I would love to see her in the MCU or any Black woman for that matter. But considering how they're wasting Black Widow, I'm not hopeful.
ReplyDeleteJimmy has always been s photographer so that hasn't changed and how many Blavk professionals are on TV? Not enough I say. As for not being geeky because he's attractive, you're right that you can have both. He may have been a dweeb in High School.
It makes no difference. If the character doesn't have a ethical background, like say a Black Panther, the actor could be on any race.
ReplyDeleteThis is fantastic! Another beloved red-headed white demon icon of American oppression bites the dust! With black Annie and black Jimmy Olsen all we need is to cast Daniel Kaluuya as Ron Howard's character in a Happy Days remake and the cinematic representation of redheads will be squashed forever. Lol at the silly white racist pigs who don't understand that their ethnicity is nothing more than a blank canvas for the litterary-challenged races to paint their own story on. Step by step towards a chocolate Hollywood comrades! Heil progress!
ReplyDeleteRight on syster! No white character is linked to their race! This priviledge is reserved for the superior races of the planet. White rapists of the earth are no more than ambiguous interchangeable entities that exist solely to be replaced by more interesting and more attractive people of color. Heil progress!
ReplyDeleteIf I'm being trolled by Captain Obvious, then clearly I'm doing something write.
ReplyDeleteHail Satan.
Well said syster! Whites (or pasties as I call'em) don't have an ethnic background, and the stupid rape-apologist teabillies can't seem to get it through to their tiny bigotted minds. May Obama be with you.
ReplyDeleteYou are indeed doing the right thing syster Whitney! Your support of the cultural displacement of the cum-coloureds as earned you the respect of the vanguard of progress! All basketball-Americans should strive to be as progressive as you. Love the shoutout to Satan. VERY progressive. Obama be with you
ReplyDeleteI deleted that losers hilariously stupid comments.
ReplyDeleteThey were hilariously stupid, and I wanted to drop the Kingsman reference so badly. lol
ReplyDeleteThis is just as bad as a movie about Jackie Robinson starring Dustin Diamond.
ReplyDeleteFunny but not exactly the same. In one case you have an underrepresented minority race replacing another race. In the other you have a majority race replacing an underrepresented minority. Plus Dustin Diamond is a horrible baseball player.
ReplyDeleteThis character change dooms the series before it even starts. Why not make her boss a black woman? Also, making Supergirl's potential love interest black is just unrealistic unless Supergirl is supposed to be a 300 lb white trash heifer!
ReplyDeleteSo your saying Black men only date white trash?
ReplyDeleteA black woman as the boss would be awesome. You should start a campaign
ReplyDeleteHe is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to hot to be Jimmy Olsen...
ReplyDeleteIt really makes no difference if Jimmy Olsen is black or not, I cant think of a single story... even going back to the Silver Age where him being black would change the story...
except maybe one... Where he is transported to krypton and its revealed that everyone with red hair gets an automatic military rank... but that is super dumb.
He doesnt have any significant history in a culture that would necessitate him being white... or anything.
He is definitly one of the more suitable characters for race swapping I think.... just dont know about making him a hottie *shrugs*
STOP messing up my favorite movies with your liberal black diversity! You libs are doing this to everything and its destroying the movie industry. I dont want to watch supergirl date a black dude, sorry just dont to see it its bad enough Obama the antichrist is black.
ReplyDeleteMy goodness no one understands this. Bravo.
ReplyDeletepls make a black superman....black batman, black flash, black super saiyan, black aquaman, black wonder woman, everything!
ReplyDeleteThis racial tolerance with changing characters from white to black and trying to justify it with stupidity is actually repulsive. Similar to black Robin Hood in middle ages Sherwood forest hahaha.. Also, the show is a total fail..
ReplyDelete"underrepresented minority" ... lol yea ok.
ReplyDeleteWait until I make a George Washington Carver movie with a white actor playing GWC.
ReplyDeleteWait until I make a George Washington Carver movie with a white actor playing GWC.
ReplyDeleteI don't know. In the 50's & 60's what was the racial mix in Metropolis or Smallville?
ReplyDeleteIt's not about the blacks, it's about Jimmy Olsen. They should have get the actor that played him on Smallville, god i loved him
ReplyDeleteThe day I'll see a black woman superhero is the day i'll take the time to watch these crappy superhero movies . black women are made to be superheroes, they are being blackballed so harshly
ReplyDeleteI have no issue with Jimmy Olsen being a black man. It has made me wonder though, how many black men carry the last name Olsen?
ReplyDeletePlain insulting to comic book purists.
ReplyDeleteThis show will fail for obvious reasons. Another token black ruining a character
ReplyDeleteSupergirl should fly him back to Africa.
ReplyDeleteAmazing post! I was reading this article with pleasure! I'd like to add that ALL people need to love and be loved! https://kovla.com/blog/relationship-is-a-need-too/ it made me sure! Read it too, I know that you will find in it smth you are looking for! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI will not be watching anymore. Interracial relationships have no place here.
ReplyDeleteI am not in favor of this. You lost a viewer and I suppose a few more.
Supergirl kissing a black..... not in my house ass wipe
The motivations of a mudshark;
ReplyDeletehttp://alphagameplan.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-motivations-of-mudshark.html