The White Savior

 

One of the difference that I see from a white character that is perceived as a none racist from a "White Savior" is that a none racist white person is ok with black culture and black people, but they don't go out of their way to do anything else for them. A none racist person is ok with black people and have become costumed to living with them in this society. When it comes to defending or speaking our and supporting any of their causes they don't, their way of thinking is "everyone for themselves." Typically they mind their own business and worry about themselves. In the other hand a white savior goes all out to fight, defend, and speak out for everyone else that is not of their race. In movies or shows, they are shown as the hero's  and the one that have ended racism and that they have done the right thing. From watching  the video about "the white savior trope" one thing that caught my attention is that usually these films and movies are written by white people and acted by white people and they only get the recognition. They mentioned that some films about white saviors will end racism by just sitting and watching a two hour long movie. These type of films and shows will put only the white person as the star and the only one who struggles and is actually doing something to help out a person of color. One of the things that bugs me is that why does it always have to be a white person in the film helping out people of color? Why isn't there more movie's about people of color helping out their own kind or telling the story from their own point of view and not from a white person perspective. Why don't we have more Latino or African American actors, and why is the majority of the oscars given to a white actor. 

One movie that everyone has watched is the "The Blind Side" it's a movie about a young black athlete who is adopted by a rich white family and is supported to play sports by them, he eventually does on to play college football and makes it to the NFL. in the film we see the young black athlete struggle through poverty and being homeless in high school and have bad grades. Many times being looked down by many of the white kids at the school and parents. They show how a rich rich and courageous white woman decided to do what every doesn't do and offer their home, care, and love to help him out. She stands up for him and fight for him as he was her own son. Eventually the young athlete gets adopted by the family and is care and loved by them. One thing I noticed is that they show more about the white mom struggles against other people fighting for the new adopted son more than the personal struggle of the young athlete. How come they don't show more of the struggle and the inner personal fight he had to win to become the person he is today. Why didn't the producers show more about his childhood struggles and how he ended up homeless. Why did they focus on the white savior and not on who the story is really about, the African American athlete. 

Through out the years we've seen the stories of the white saviors, white film actors are the one's that take up more fame and better acting roles. For example Marvel's movies, it kinda feels like they only made the black panther because they had to. It's been too long and many years that stories of black people have been miss represented. We need more black actors, more lead roles for them. We need more black people to be recognize and appreciated for their talent and art.