Women of Color, Wonder Woman and Underrepresentation

Entertainment Weekly dropped an exclusive first look at the new Wonder Woman Film and I am the definition of heated.
 

First look at the heroines of @WonderWomanFilm: https://t.co/03doHyRen0#WonderWomanpic.twitter.com/0z3Jws3Uvo

— Anthony Breznican (@Breznican) March 24, 2016

My blood is boiling.

I’m filled with rage.

Not watching. I endured a childhood of #scifi#underrepresentation, no room for this whilst adulting. #WonderWomanhttps://t.co/wK060vhxpF

— Samantha Sophia (@RaisingSelf) March 25, 2016

It’s Easter week and I’m wishing evil upon this franchise, compromising my ability to take communion soon. None the less, I hope that Wonder Woman experiences Fantastic Four level reviews. I’m praying that they experience Gods of Egypt level box office results. I want this franchise to fail because the erasure of people of color should no longer be profitable.

Blerd (Black Nerd) nation gave the exclusive look at Wonder Woman a collective side-eye because one of two things are happening:

1. Key leading characters of color were erased from this re-telling of the Wonder Woman narrative.
2. The existence of key leading characters of color are being diminished in the ad campaign (and can’t be found on the IMDB page).

Both scenarios piss me off, but if I go and pay my hard earned cash to see this film and Themyscira, the paradise island that serves as the Amazonian home base, isn’t thick with the diversity noted in the comics…

If Philippus and Nubia aren’t kicking ass and taking names while having major screen time and a clear purposeful presence…

If this film only represents feminism and strength from one narrow white-washed ocular…

I’ll probably be asked to leave the theater. All chill may exit my body. (Over-exaggeration, I would quietly leave and ask for a refund whilst giving the service desk attendee the utmost respect because it’s not their fault.)

I didn’t expect wonder woman to be of Black African descent.

Could never hope for her to be South Asian.

Don’t get me wrong, I think Gal Gadot maybe a great choice for this role. She’s strong. She served in the Israeli army and did all her stunts in another major franchise film. But I did expect the Themysciran community to be diverse.

Maybe I’m too close to the topic. Maybe you view my stance as biased because of my membership in the group being excluded. But the truth is, Hollywood has a diversity issues that is very closely attached to the ideas surrounding the type of casting that will more likely guarantee financial success.

As of right now, all signs are pointing to white-washing and continued underrepresentation, so I plan to avoid this film.

Post Scriptum: Philippus was responsible for Wonder Woman’s  training since she was a child and is one of the first recurring black female characters in DC Comics history. She has been a part of the Wonder Woman narrative for decades and I can’t help but feel surprised and upset by this oversight.