Thread: Bringing racism into my book - Advice?

So, I am currently working on my story that I RPed with a friend for a few years..

Now, I know this is a bit of a touchy subject for people but I need to bring racism into the story, not that I want to but I have to. Racism in this story brings out a few main characters that wouldn't exist if i didn't bring racism into the game.

I AM NOT racist in any way!.

I made up these three characters Tunt, Tonse and Tronc and there all black (kind of anyway but that isn't important) and my friend made up these Mexicans Tret, Enriuqie and Integro and a few family members.

I also have a character Chillin (he's a American) who is a bit racist until he actually stops being racist after a while. There are a few other racist characters but there not that important to mention.

I did get advice from Slugfly (If you read this post, I love your user name!) and she? said in my other thread

Racism is tricky to play with, and might be best avoided, but if not just remember to pay attention to who you are giving power to, who you are making the aggressor, and who you are actually portraying stereotypes about. It's pretty delicate territory really.

So, can anyone give me some good advice how to set up racism in this story?. I just don't want to make it seem I am racist and this is why racism is in the book, it's just the characters are racist (not all but some). I know what will be happening between the characters but i think some advice on the subject might help me with knowing how to set it up properly.

The racism is between the blacks and the Mexicans. The Mexicans are the ones who are the aggressors towards the Americans in the story but the fights between the Mexicans/Blacks, the Mexicans are more of the aggressors but the Blacks give it back to defend themselves and I also have other black characters other then Tunt/Tonse and Tronc who are the aggressors sometimes.

Thanks

The racism of your characters will come through in their thoughts, speech, conversation, and their actions. Some people are racist, so you are describing reality. Make sure, though, that the racists get their come-uppance; if they are seen to win, people will think, "That author is racist!" Be subtle about it, though - don't moralise about it. Let the situations speak for themselves - show that racism is pointless, that those who indulge in it bring themselves into continual conflict with others.

Your Chillin character sounds pivotal here. He changes from semi-racist to non-racist. He can be the sounding-board for the racist characters, against whom you measure their worth (or lack of it). In Chillin's conversations, or actions, let us see his change of heart. He will be the real "winner" of your story - let that show, and readers will "get" it. Chillin - starts off uptight (racist), but then he chills? Is that it?

At the end of the day if you have established that it's a fictional world with fictional characters people will just
accept that your character's views are important to the story.

If you're perhaps worried that people might think you're racist because of your story, don't be. Just make it
clear that Chillin's actions are out of ignorance or a deep fear, like racists in our world.

Just remember that true racism is violence and oppression, not giving a fictional character a racist view. If your
character is dislikable then it may open the eyes of people that think like him. It will likely do more good
than you think, that's if the concepts in this RP can apply to the real world that is.

Good luck!

If one of your characters is a racist then by all means portray him as such...hold nothing back...I wouldn't let your personal feelings affect the story. I ran into this in my own story with a homophobic. I wrote him as I thought a homophobic would think and said things I have heard homophobic's say. It's not a major part of the book but it was an important part.

A bit of advice on how to make the characters racist (and I use the word "advice" loosely, I'm more or less pulling this out of the air):

-If your racist characters and racially-targeted characters are forced to spend time with each other or help each other (assuming that's how he overcomes his racism) then, a few things to consider:
----the racist is outnumbered. He will probably show his racism by obviously or awkwardly avoiding phrases that allude to race, even if a normal comment under circumstances ("the guy there, the bl... the uh, the only guy that's uh... wearing jeans and... oh wait that guy has jeans too..." - "you mean the black guy?" - "oh... uh, yeah. I mean, no offense.")
----are the targets of racism a local minority or majority? Being a national minority in no way makes somebody live life as a minority. Somebody who is not living as a minority may be very fast to get angry or offended at a racist slip-up. Somebody who lives as a minority may get angry, but may also just show an embarrassed impatience. Of course, somebody who is actively oppressed in their daily life might be outright hostile and racist themselves.

In short, if his racism is not dangerous, then I'd suggest taking a more direct approach to his psyche. The character's problem is not "racism" per se, but that he is ignorant and holds some uninformed opinions. Choose what those opinions are (and who taught them, his mother? His grandfather? His neighborhood in general?) and make sure that your narrator isn't a racist, and you'll have a believable racist character without being racist. Or at least, that's the path I think I'd go.

Oh, I have just remembered...

There was a story not too long ago that said they are removing the word "Nigger" out of Huckleberry Finn! I see it as more insulting that they're replacing it with "Slave"...
I'm not sure if this only applies to a local publisher somewhere in the US, but this is the kind of ridiculous nonsense that makes literature lose it's impact and relevance to it's time period.

Write how this Chillin character and his friends around him talk. That's what creates a living world. Censorship is not reality.

Search that news story I mentioned, it's insane.

There's a post about it here, Tom....I think Baron posted it.

Thank you for the reply's everyone!.

Chillin - starts off uptight (racist), but then he chills? Is that it?

Yes, that is . I found what you said interesting and it got me thinking so thanks!. He makes the biggest changes out of all the characters in this story, he's my favorite character and he's always there in the game when my friend and I played it so, he's very important in this story.

Sadly I have to also include characters that are homophobic BUT I actually have quite a few gay/Bi-sexuel characters, lol.

NotoriousTom - I defiantly will make it clear where his racism comes from. I know his racism is that he doesn't understand many things based around other cultures/there beliefs and it's also fear but he changes slowly and becomes good friends with Enrique who he hated quite a lot at first. I think slave a lot worst then Nigger. I wont censor words, it'll ruin the story if I do.

Thanks again everyone!.

I have one more question, I have a few things based around sexuel assault situations (forced sex/rape) but how would this be described in a story?. How far would one go with the detail?.

I think I just answered my own question, lol. So no need to answer it if you don't want to.

If you imply it and show the results of the crime in behaviour changes, I think it can be creepier or more powerful than showing it.

@TahsSunny Hi TahsSunny , if you want to know how to depict racist characters in your novel,try reading To Kill a Mockingbird ,Huckleberry Finn and The Last Of The Just.