some easy ways to not white wash Zayn in your fic
I’ve been feeling a little frustrated by the depiction of Zayn, especially in H&L fics, for years now. But I always thought people would simply not listen and try to get better. I’ve found some wonderful friends of color in this fandom, had the space to talk and understand each other, and I think it’s time I put some effort into making this fandom into a space where I feel comfortable. So here we go!
This is about creating fictional characters. NOT an analysis of real life.
I am a persian/german, bisexual nb person who grew up in a suburbian-ish neighbourhood. This means I can only talk about being mixed/brown and growing up in a white environment in either a very narrow or a very broad sense. I’d love for other brown/mixed and pakistani/desi people, especially those who live(d) in England, to add their thoughts. Your opinions are important and appreciated!
Note: I won’t be talking about faith because I don’t have enough experience in that.
This post is obviously not complete or extensive. And there’s always the risk of turning him into a Token Brown Character. But we all have learning curves, are hopefully willing to listen to each other and help, and that’s great! My inbox is open, and while I don’t always have energy for it, I generally love talking about this stuff - so please do ask away or voice ways for me to improve. I definitely still make mistakes.
Lastly: I mostly read H&L which means I have a very specific perception of Zayn’s portrayal in fics. But this can help with any pairing.
The most obvious and easiest one, that’s often overlooked.
Arts
Zayn! is! nerdy! Fic is a great space to explore his goofiness and his passion for comics, graffiti, sci-fi etc etc.
Maybe he’s reading a book by a pakistani author? (we love book mentions in fics!! maybe we can generally add some authors of color and not center on european/white romanticism and modernity)
We have some awesome fantasy AUs!! What about desi/islamic/pakistani mythology? (and not just djinn)
Maybe he has posters of brown bands or artists on his walls? Maybe he puts on some music in urdu or by singers of color?
Food
What if, instead of ordering take-away nr2, ot5 cook some aloo?
What if Zayn brings some jalebi to a night in?
Maybe look up some pakistani recipes! You might get to learn a new dinner favourite!
Language
I’m going to refrain from delving into details like body language or gestures or speech patterns. But some basics:
Does he talk in Urdu with his family?
What does he call his parents? (e.g.: Aba,Baba,Dad,Abu,etc)
Does he talk Urdu in front of white people?
Tip: Try not to describe Urdu, Arabic or any other desi and middle eastern language/script as mysterious or dark. It’s an orientalist narrative that indirectly places English (and other western languages) as the rational and safe norm.
We’ve seen how important family is to Zayn. He seems very gentle and devoted to to them, attends big family gatherings, e.g. on Eid celebrations. I don’t expect you to understand the complex dynamics of brown families. But it’s interesting how Louis, for example, is always depicted as someone who is very close to his family, while Zayn often seems like he’s living in a vacuum. Why is that?
How did he grow up? Did he have the same toys as white kids? Did he watch the same cartoons? Was he comfortable with bringing friends around his house? How has that shaped him?
Tan France on growing up as a gay brown man.
A lot of brown people know their extended family. We grow up with cousins as our best friends. I call my father’s best friend uncle and his children cousins. Oh, and aunties!! (may I recommend the podcast BadBrownAunties) Hundreds of pinches and kisses to rosy cheeks!
I also recommend watching Hasan Minhaj on Patriot Act and Netflix for some politics and great immigrant jokes. Bonus: Hasan and Tan going shopping.
I know. Zayn is breathtaking. But when is it truly important to the narrative or character perception to write odes to his beauty? Is he described as an object - as something to consume? (I get the urge to lick him but c’mon caramel skin is a little overused by now)
Controversal opinion: Zayn may get a tan when he’s outside a lot, but he’s quite pale. That doesn’t make him less of a Brown Person. This applies to fanartists, too!! Oftentimes Harry looks much more orange tanned than Zayn!
(I could also talk about the privilege of white passing, but I don’t think this is the space. To break it down: While the Zayn in your fic may be stopped at every airport for a ‘random search’ and has had teachers mocking him for his last name in class, he probably doesn’t experience as much hate comments in conversation or on the street as people with darker skin tones.)
Hair! (I fucking love body hair) Happy trails! Hair on forearms! Thick hair on the inside of thighs! Hair between boobs! Ass hair! Hairy nipples!
Zayn as a Brown Person who is also Not Straight and/or Cis
Understand that every brown lgbt person has different experiences and be careful about what your narratives are enforcing. If and when brown people get queer representation in media it’s often focused on their suffering, self-hatred, their families being unwelcoming. Let’s avoid that.
Questions to think about:
- Is he made comfortable talking about being a moc by his white partner or white lgbt friends?
- has he found brown / poc lgbt spaces? are all his friends white or cishet?
- Is he out to his close family? To his extended family? Or is he happy with engaging with the lgbt community only in certain spaces?
- does he introduce partners to his family or is it not that important to him?
- has he learned some lgbt history of pakistan or the uk or wherever he lives?
- Did he have lgbt idols as a teen? Were those white? Did that make it hard to imagine himself as both brown and non cishet? Or did it feel like he had to choose?
- How is his understanding of gender or sexuality shaped by growing up as a Brown Person in a white environment? (e.g. does he feel connected to the constructs of white manhood/masculinity? What are his love languages? Are they percieved as such?)
(This is a Huge Topic and a little too complex for fic, but. Idk. I thought I’d mention it, especially for other brown people who read this.)
- signalling: Dyed hair? Bracelets? Gay Shirts? Big ass rainbow flag? Nothing at all?
Finally: Please, please write him occupying his time with other things than smoking, drinking and generally being sexy. I understand that, if he’s a side character, you want to focus on your main pairing and give him a function. But there are so many possibilities to do that! This is a great way to practice writing secondary characters!
This is it for now! Again, other PoC: Feel free to comment! I will add things as time goes on. White people: Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification or help, just don’t expect me to have energy All The Time. You’re welcome!
Love ❣️💌💕💟
titsay
turnnoffyourmind
origamiaround
yousharknotpass
kaledo-art
germansingergirl
