Racism in One Piece
I have some feelings about the depiction of racism in One Piece.
Like some things are really well done (in the manga particularly). Exotism with Big Mom. Hody and being raise into hatred, hating this distant idea without interacting with them, being physically weak but defeating him won't be enough to restrain racism. Arlong and how innocent can be harm in your desire for revange/justice, and how you can developp a "bond" with someone from a group you hate doesn't equal to outgrowing your prejudice. How Fisher Tiger liberated fishmen/merfolks and human alike yet couldn't overcome his ressentment, that leading to his death, but he knew that this take times, and that the next generation could do/be better. Koala and how the upbringing shape someone, with her being able to use fishman karate. How Nami wasn't prejudice against fishmen (from what I remember?). Hatchan and how someone can evolve. Vander Decken IX and how you are not define by your oppression, how some can even hurt their own community. Just Queen Otohime. There is so much to say. Really.
And I see more and more people joking about how Oda took the whole "black people can't swim" too personnally.
But also. There is something that doesn't sit right with me. The fact that racism in the real world in not based on any scientific/biological reason. I mean, sure, we know now that POC have some facility/can push father for some sports (running for some black people being the prime exemple), but it doesn't go beyond that. And its not the reason why racism exist.
But in one piece's universe, we could argue that there is a "reason". Fishmen and Merfolks have abilities that human don't. They are stronger and faster on average, they can live underwater, breathe in it, they can speak to sea creature. And the Fishman jujutsu (maybe is not inherent to the fishman, but we still don't know that) and their ability to manipulate water.
Like, yes it's not a reason to be discriminated against. But it kind of perpetuate the idea that their is a "reason" for racism. That's not just root in supremacy and ignorance and so on. Not concrete/"real" reason. Like yes there is the whole blood transfusion that is done really nicely. But still.
Also. Racism seem to be more from the Tenryuubito and the other noble than the commun people. I mean we are kind of biased since we follow pirates.
But other than the nobles, I don't think we saw any racism? I should reread the whole thing but yeah.
Even the Marine doesn't really show racism. And they are cops. We could also argue that almost all marine being human is a form of racism. But it doesn't go beyond that. (Don't get me wrong, exclusion is bad, but yeah, idk)
And, this famous panel, ch 90 :
It's fun. It's on point for this exact moment. Because they are about to fight, and their difference doesn't matter right now.
But also, I can't stop myself to be a bit... bugged? Because Luffy is simple-minded but he isn't stupid. He has an incredible emotional intelligence and a good understanding of power dynamic in most cases, even more so as the manga progress (mainly thanks to vivi and jinbei).
So. It's kind of out of place for him. It sounds a bit too much like "I don't see color" kind of shit. And don't get me wrong, Luffy is the farthest from racist. He is an anarchist at core, freedom for everyone and doesn't care about race or class or gender. But that doesn't mean he doesn't understand what that means. With Vivi, Tama, Momonosuke, Hancock, Cami, and so on.
I have mixed feeling that I can't really explain more than that.
So yeah. It is just something that bugs me. And I didn't see anyone talking about it.