Can I ask you a question?
I'm currently trying to write and draw some colors characters, and I wanted to know if you, or your followers could help me with that. Like what people of color would like to see/read or what they don't want to see/read. Because, if one day, I accidentally hurt someone with my art, I'll feel really bad. So some help will be gentle. Not only that will help me, but also, I would love to learn more about it. BTW, sorry if there's any kind of spelling mistakes, I'm from France.
And, you're two blogs are real blessed for my Littles eyes.
Thank you! And FIRSTLY I recommend using the term “people of color” or POC to describe them “colored people” “colors characters” may be seen as derogatory, but English isn’t your first Language so that’s okay
as for writing them, I think I’d start by writing them like any other character, this means avoiding any stereotypes you’re aware of and just making a character that appeals to you, just like you would a white one, then I’d dive a little deeper, share the character with ppl, ask for critiques, stuff like that. input from ppl of color can make your characters of color much stronger if you really listen to them.
As for more specific things, all cultures, races and ethnicities have their own stereotypes, it’s impossible to keep up with or avoid ALL of them, but just make sure you try your best to be respectful. As a loose guideline I would avoid:
> making characters of color too agressive
> making them overly submissive or subservient to another white character
> AVVE or heavy slang (this is really something only black ppl have a good grasp on it’s hard to learn)
> constantly making them comfort a white a character
> drawing black characters very very dark or “ashy” all the time (this one isn’t much of a problem rlly since ppl with darker tones exist and lack rep/face more discrimination because of it but most African Americans at least are some shade of dark or light brown and exaggerating that CAN be seen as offensive, also be careful with drawing them too desaturated )
> animalistic traits (this one should be okay if most characters in your story have such traits but be careful with tails and horns)
As for things we LIKE to see with poc characters:
> poc who are gentle and kind
> poc being taken care of, loved deeply by other characters
> poc being driven and determined
> poc who are smart (they don’t have to be geniuses but avoid “dumb” tropes)
> poc who like to have fun, smile a lot
> poc who are skilled or successful at something
> poc who have personalities and interests outside the culture they come from
> poc with personal struggles that don’t have to do with race (this is a good way to humanize them, just don’t go crazy with the angst)
I hope this list isn’t too hard to follow, just use it as a guide to making any character you come up with even better
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