In Adilifu Nama’s article “Color them Black” from the Superhero Reader Nama demonstrates the power of including superheroes of different races in comics being extremely important to comic book history. Nama places great emphasis on Black Canary’s part in addressing racism. By illustrating how she, “…delve into the recesses of her own heart and mind to root out racist motivations, her action implied that personal reflection was an equal or possibly more important and effective step toward eliminating racism than organized political confrontation of institutional racism” (257). Through Black Canary’s personal reflection, the readers are influenced to believe that racism can be eliminated through personal reflection. I found this to be very relevant to racism today because racism is a personal belief that can only be eliminated by the individual. Superheroes such as Green Lantern, Green Arrow and Black Canary, Nama says, “…symbolized the need for whites to take ownership of their white privilege, acknowledge the feelings of guilt, and most importantly strive for personal transformation. Ultimately the comic suggested that the most viable solution for ending racism in America was for its white citizenry to become introspective and mindful of their racial prejudices, a solution that did not require one to possess superhuman powers” (257-58). I was unaware of these superheroes addressing world issues such as racism which was pleasantly surprising. Not only did these superheroes address racism, but they also distinguished the underlying problem to be within individuals. With or without powers, these superheroes encouraged the elimination of racism to come from individuals reflecting on their racial prejudices and making a change.
In Henry Jenkins’s article “Death-Defying Heroes” from the Superhero Reader, Jenkins illustrates the importance of death or loss within comics. I found his personal experience with comics and his mother’s death to be extremely touching. His essay is about what it “means to consume and be consumed by superheroes” (296). Superheroes are so much more than just characters within a story. Today I went to lunch and overheard a young boy who looked about 5 years old tell his parents that everyone wants to be a superhero. I couldn’t help but agree with his statement. So many people want some sort of aspect that superheroes have such as their strength, their superpowers, their secret identities, etc. Being a superhero is so appealing to children, because it gives them something to aspire to be. Jenkins emphasizes, “What separated the villains from the heroes wasn’t the experience of loss, but what they did after that loss, how it shaped their sense of themselves and their place in the world. Some were strengthened by loss, others deformed” (303). In most of the comics we’ve read this semester, both villains and superheroes are influenced by either the deaths of their loved ones or another significant loss resulting in their fate as villain or hero. Both, Batman and Dr. Doom, choose their fate as hero and villain because of their parent’s deaths.
Jenkins brings up the topic of how superheroes are just like us and strengthened or weakened by deaths of their loved ones. Jenkins powerfully states, “I came away with a new understanding of why the superheroes hold onto their grief, their rage, their anguish, and draw upon it as a source of strength. At one point in my life, I read those stories to learn what it was like to have the power and autonomy of adulthood. Now, I read them to see how you confronted death and came out the other side, how mourning forces you to reassess who you are and what your goals are and what you owe to the people who brought you into the world” (303). I completely agree with Jenkins statement because reading about these superheroes and the grief that forced them to make a change in their direction in life is inspiring. Personally, I experienced the same realization as do most of the superheroes we’ve read about. After my grandma passed away, I was first weakened and lost but then I realized my purpose in life is to help others. That realization allowed me to realize what I really wanted to do in my life was become a pediatric nurse. Although I’ll be graduating from CSUN with an English Literature degree, I took nursing prerequisites as well and my goal is to go to nursing school after I graduate.