I'm sorry I don't mean this in an offensive way. I understand that "colored" is offensive but I don't understand why "the colors" is offensive. They're technically two different words with different meanings. And the colors is in reference to their tunics and not their skintones
I'm going to be straight forward. Calling the Four Swords Links "The Colors" is strange and uncomfortable because the undertones are rooted in racism. During the Jim Crow era of America, BIPOC were segregated by the labels "colored" and "white". BIPOC were treated as subhuman. It was a horrific era, and the aftermath of it still lingers in modern day American culture.
Yes, the "the colors" and "the colored" are not 1-to-1 same word. However, the connotations of "colored people" is laced with so, so much violent history that seeing a group of people called "the colors" is just incredibly insensitive. "the colors" is a term being used to label a group of peopleâit's weird at the least and hurtful at the most.
Here are a couple designs of Four Swords Links. And I want you to tell me if you'd still call them "The Colors":
If the answer is still yes⌠then I strongly urge you to do some real world research on Jim Crow era, and really think about if this was YOUR family and loved ones experiencing this torture/segregation, how would you feel about the label?
Below cut is FAQ:
1) "I don't think people intentionally are trying to be racist."
I know. I like to believe that most people are against the idea of racism and are well-intentioned. Most people call the Links "The Colors" because they see other people call them that. Yes, and I'm aware they're only saying it because of their tunic colors. However, I am explaining exactly why it sets many POC on edge in this post. I'm not accusing anyone of malice. Many people have called them "the colors" in the past, but no longer after hearing POC express their disdain towards the term. To those people, I hold so much respect for them and I'm forever grateful for their understanding.
Think of it like this: if you accidentally threw trash at me instead of the bin, I might be caught off guard but ultimately, it's fine. I knew your intentions weren't to throw trash at me. However, if you keep throwing trash at me and saying that you "aren't intentionally trying to upset me", I'm going to get upset regardless. I don't like trash being thrown at me. I've expressed it. And it's being blatantly ignored repeatedly.
2) "Are black people bothered by this? Why don't I see more speaking up about it?"
Yes, there are black people are bothered and hurt by this. The reason why you don't see more BIPOC people in speaking up about this is because of the (potential) backlash. Speaking up against racism is terrifying. Even for me. Sometimes the pain of staying silent is less agonizing than the pain of speaking up. If your POC friends don't speak about their experiences with racism around you, maybe it's because they don't feel safe doing so.
3) "You're Asian American, why does this bother you?"
While Black Americans were the primary targets during the Jim Crow era, ALL BIPOC were victims to segregation. Also, I care about POC issues in general. All racism bothers me. Racism literally impacts every single aspect of our lives whether big or small. Even today, in my daily life, I put up with acts of racism towards myself. I witness racism towards others. This is something we cannot escape or ignore. Unfortunately.
4) "What do we call the Four Swords Links then?"
I don't have a universal answer. I just call them the Links. I don't really mind what they're called as long as it doesn't have offensive undertones or hurt others. Avoiding using language that upsets POC is more important to me than trying to create a unique label for the FS Links.
5) "I'm BIPOC/POC and "the colors" doesn't bother me."
I am going to assume that you're very young or don't have a lot of life experience. If you choose to insist on calling them "the colors" despite other POC people expressing their pain towards itâit is your choice.
My goal isn't to force people to change or to start a witch hunt. My goal is to educate and explain to the best of my abilities. Sometimes my tone will come off strong, and for that I apologize. All I ask is for some grace⌠these topics bring a lot of distress to me and my friends.
Anyway, if you made it to the bottom of this post, thanks. Thank you for reading.
HI THERE MR AVON!!!!! this was supposed to be a quick thing as soon as we became moots but alas, art block hits hard... (sorry for anon vagueing you lmfao)
here is your boyfriend telling you to take better care of yourself (he's right)
+ sketch chibis
(by publicly replying to this ask you are contractually obligated to Be My Friend [tm] and we shall dance merrily into the new moon)
SAW THIS WHILE WITH MY FAMILY SJAOJDKAKS
YOU
YOUUU
FIGHTING TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE AND TO NOT KICK MY FEEET HNGNFKSKAKKAKAKA
SCREAMING
This. I love this. Ohhhhhhh I need to use this as a pfp at some point IT'S USSS UGHHHHH
Tearing up and fist bumping the hair I need to grab you and shake you I love this sm.
When I get home im going to squeal and giggle at this I need to put this on my wall
THE CHIBI DOODLES UGHHHHHH YOUHJUUUJJJ
I'M GANNA GET YOU
I WOULD DOT HAT I WOULD KISS HIM WHILE HE YAPS CUZ HE'S SO PRETTY UGHHHHHDAKKA
all are pre-evolutions because of canon age and it makes sense to me
dont throw cheese at me a dark type would fit shadow better but magnemite reminds me of the little rock eyes he had and i think its cuteee
red with an ampharos is a personal attack against me i love it so super much and mareep fits really well too (i looked for a suitable fire type first but i could only really think of a victini and decided against it)
vio is literally just snivy theres no other reason
favorite octonaut:
shadow = captain barnacles
green = dashi
red = kwazi
blue = captain barnacles
vio = tweak
im still not sure about vio or shadow i do think its in character for both of them but i dont think its perfect
green and dashi make so much sense to me for some reason i think they just give off the same vibe
all of the links like captain barnacles (how could you not) its just that blue and shadow dont really lean anywhere else so they automatically fall under captain barnacles
i had a proper explanation for red liking kwazi but it got too long and i gave up so just know in a modern au im giving him a kwazi pin to decorate with
hello!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love your art sososososososososososoososossosoososo much and the way you draw character interactions is so cool lol
I scroll through your blog for two hours everyday so I have a lot of doodles of your blue and vio lol
(I personally think blue has the neatest handwriting so I'm doing him a disservice here)
anyways I think you're so cool!!!! unfathomably cool!!! thanks so much for spreading your blue and vio agenda its impacted me greatly lol
hi Yun!! omg you've been living in my notifications this past week LOLOLâI'm SOOO super flattered that you enjoy my silly Four Sword doodles so much :"DD <3!!
AAAIUUEEAA YOU DREW THEM!!!!!! oh my god, I ADORE THIS!! SO!!! MUCH!!!!!!! EHEGAHAGAGEHA. THEY'RE SO CUTE....
and the dialogue is SO GOOD DHEHEHAâthem mocking each other over dumb shit is SO ACCURATE im so obsessed with this you have no idea whegehagwgwiwiw THANK YOUU i literally made Blue one of my discord pfps LOL
