Or Maybe Richonne IS a Litmus Test for Racism?
It’s like the mantra of certain TWD fandom circles: “Richonne is not a litmus test for racism.”
It’s delivered, condescendingly, as if it’s the most reason-based thought in the world – it’s just a show. TV couples aren’t important. Conflating something so trivial and meaningless as not liking a TV couple with racism is so over-the-top it insults human intelligence.
Which, of course, is a wildly privileged point-of-view. TV couples can matter a hell of a lot when they offer representation rarely seen on TV.
Regardless of intention, Richonne most certainly is a litmus test, from moment one through its high and low points. Seriously, it could be used in University studies on perception and race, the buildup was so clear, yet so invisible to so many.
Since there is this prevalent idea that racism means “making a conscious choice to flagrantly hate people for the color of their skin,” I’m going to change the wording:
Richonne is a litmus test that shows how influenced you are by media that prioritizes white people.
In the US, that’s most media, so it’s not your fault if your worldview has been shaped by white priority media (WPM), among other things.
So, if you were completely caught off guard by Richonne and have a hard time seeing them as anything but bros-in-arms or siblings, have you been influenced by years of WPM?
Answer: Yes. Obviously. Because it was there, and you weren’t able to see it, even though if Michonne’s arc had been given to a white actress, don’t lie – you would have seen her as a potential love interest from the minute Rick saw her by the prison wall with formula for Judith. Everybody would have.
If you never thought they were coming together as a family unit, you’ve been influenced by WPM.
If you saw Jessie and thought “finally a love interest for Rick!” or thought that arc was romantic, you’ve been influenced by WPM.
If you think it makes more sense for Michonne to be a lone badass and Rick to be with someone else, you’ve been influenced by WPM.
If you had doubts that TWD would take the risk of actually pairing them romantically and sexually, you’ve either been paying attention to the habits of WPM or have been influenced by it (or a bit of both).
If you think Rick deserves a “pretty” (read: white) girl, you’re just a flat-out racist.
Are there non-racial reasons not to like an IR pairing? Sure, but not seeing it develop when it does develop in canon isn’t one of them.
