What Ethnicty Are Your Characters?

I have a mixed creed of characters I mainly write about. Most of my original fiction character's races are black (ethnicity wise: Dominican, Cuban, French and German) because I'm black and that's how I see them. It's an automatic thing, but I'm not going to use that as an excuse to only write about black people. I need diversity in my stories though, but that's more of a personal thing because I hardly ever state the race/ethnicity of my original characters, unless I have a purpose to.

I write mostly white characters, but that's because where I live 99% of the population is white. In my school, that has over 1000 kids, four of them are black and seven of them are asian.

I'm trying to branch out though, it's just difficult when your not "exposed" to it (for lack of a better word)

^I agree with you about the last part. I never thought of it like that because I'm a military brat, so being around people of all races is normal to me and I'm very glad I was raised like that because people can be ignorant about certain races and ethnicities.

Your Mom:

I think she was referring to the stereotypical black person.

And that's true, even though I probably do that too.

Yeah, which kind of sucks since she is black and acts like all black people fit in the stereotypical category.

In a story that I have in my notebook, I have an a half asian boy, who's half Japanese actually and he was based off a friend of mine who shares the same personality and ethnicity. <3

Brandon, if you're reading this! I love you! And thank you for being the inspiration for my asian character! :D

I admit most of my characters are white..but that's probably because most of my friends are white, even though I am Asian myself.

But in my story, Dreaming with a Broken Heart, one of my main characters, Adrienne, is actually half Chinese, half Dutch.

I have to know, because it's been lingering in my mind, what drives people to write about white people (on this site that is) when they're not even white themselves?

EDIT.

dr. faustus.:

...being around people of all races is normal to me...

I have to agree with that (only I'm not a military brat or however you described it). I've been around a lot of races of people and not only been around them, but got to know a little something about them. I love learning about new cultures (expect English)

But I mostly write about black people because I come from Prince Georges Country, Maryland which is one of the most populated area of black people in the US I believe. Then it's Fort Lauderdale (where I'm trying to go to school, I suck). Plus I go to a school that's 47% African American and African (from a 2008 count but I'm sure it hasn't changed much). It's almost impossible to get away.

ayanasioux:

I have to know, because it's been lingering in my mind, what drives people to write about white people (on this site that is) when they're not even white themselves?

My theory is because a lot of people here live in places mostly populated with white people, even if they're not white themselves. But then again, I've read very few (original fiction, mind you) stories where it's strictly said what race someone is. Like, I have a friend in China, and I haven't seen in her stories where she says, "This person was white..."

But I also think that just saying someone is American or British or whatever doesn't necessarily mean they're white (or whatever race is prodominate in the country in question) because obviously you can be American and Black at the same time or Chinese and white (like, a white kid raised in China would still be both things) and so on.

As for fanfiction, it's simply because the people they write about are white. It has nothing to do with, "Oh, I don't like this race, so I'm not going to write about them."

...I think that made sense

Icamane-Sandwich:

My theory is because a lot of people here live in places mostly populated with white people, even if they're not white themselves. But then again, I've read very few (original fiction, mind you) stories where it's strictly said what race someone is. Like, I have a friend in China, and I haven't seen in her stories where she says, "This person was white..."

But I also think that just saying someone is American or British or whatever doesn't necessarily mean they're white (or whatever race is prodominate in the country in question) because obviously you can be American and Black at the same time or Chinese and white (like, a white kid raised in China would still be both things) and so on.

As for fanfiction, it's simply because the people they write about are white. It has nothing to do with, "Oh, I don't like this race, so I'm not going to write about them."

...I think that made sense

I guess so. But from what I've read, they make it kind of hint that the person is white. Like they would put in "He has straight blond hair and clear blue eyes" I don't know of many races that have those traits other than white. Sometimes they'd put "Long stringy hair, skin as white as snow and pale eyes" I know that's not an Asian or Hispanic, much yet a black person. I'm guilty of slowly making the race of the character apparent myself but that's because of what most of my story subjects tend to be about.

ayanasioux:

I guess so. But from what I've read, they make it kind of hint that the person is white. Like they would put in "He has straight blond hair and clear blue eyes" I don't know of many races that have those traits other than white. Sometimes they'd put "Long stringy hair, skin as white as snow and pale eyes" I know that's not an Asian or Hispanic, much yet a black person. I'm guilty of slowly making the race of the character apparent myself but that's because of what most of my story subjects tend to be about.

That's true. I think people just don't really think about it though, not that they don't want to write about other races, that they just don't think about it. Unless of course the author wants to make a point, like you.

ayanasioux:

I have to know, because it's been lingering in my mind, what drives people to write about white people (on this site that is) when they're not even white themselves?

EDIT.

I have to agree with that (only I'm not a military brat or however you described it). I've been around a lot of races of people and not only been around them, but got to know a little something about them. I love learning about new cultures (expect English)

But I mostly write about black people because I come from Prince Georges Country, Maryland which is one of the most populated area of black people in the US I believe. Then it's Fort Lauderdale (where I'm trying to go to school, I suck). Plus I go to a school that's 47% African American and African (from a 2008 count but I'm sure it hasn't changed much). It's almost impossible to get away.

I write about white people without even knowing it, even though I'm not white, but most of my friends are white. But since I'm Asian, I'm trying to make more of my characters Asian and one of my characters is half Spanish. I'm trying to make my characters a different ethnicity, I'm planning on introducing a black character later in my story.

Icamane-Sandwich:

As for fanfiction, it's simply because the people they write about are white. It has nothing to do with, "Oh, I don't like this race, so I'm not going to write about them."

...I think that made sense

All I write is fanfiction, so that's how it is for me. I don't consciously decide "hey, I'm only going to write about white people," I just happen to be drawn to caucasian actors. And when I do write about other races, I don't really consciously think "oh, I have to write about a latino person or a black person." That just happens to be the race that that person is, it doesn't go any farther than that. That character is still that character, race doesn't play that much of a role.

And I also write a lot of SI. I'm white, I can't exactly change the color of my skin.

i saw sparks:

All I write is fanfiction, so that's how it is for me. I don't consciously decide "hey, I'm only going to write about white people," I just happen to be drawn to caucasian actors. And when I do write about other races, I don't really consciously think "oh, I have to write about a latino person or a black person." That just happens to be the race that that person is, it doesn't go any farther than that. That character is still that character, race doesn't play that much of a role.

And I also write a lot of SI. I'm white, I can't exactly change the color of my skin.

No one is asking you to change the color of your skin. I'm black and I find writing about other races is beautiful. No matter who I hang around of feel more related to (that's just me). I love all the characters I write about, white, black, brown or yellow... it's just the simple fact that diversity is lacking in stories and it some times or can feel good know you can relate to a character that's just like you. There are a lot of caucasian actors on TV and movies and rarely any other type of race. It just gets boring from time to time.

i saw sparks:

All I write is fanfiction, so that's how it is for me. I don't consciously decide "hey, I'm only going to write about white people," I just happen to be drawn to caucasian actors. And when I do write about other races, I don't really consciously think "oh, I have to write about a latino person or a black person." That just happens to be the race that that person is, it doesn't go any farther than that. That character is still that character, race doesn't play that much of a role.

And I also write a lot of SI. I'm white, I can't exactly change the color of my skin.

That's exactly how I see it.
Although, even though I may have mainly white characters, I like throwing in other ethnicities in there. French, Italian, and Spanish are my most frequent ones.

You mean you're not Michael Jackson? ...my life is a lie.

dr. faustus.:

No one is asking you to change the color of your skin. I'm black and I find writing about other races is beautiful. No matter who I hang around of feel more related to (that's just me). I love all the characters I write about, white, black, brown or yellow... it's just the simple fact that diversity is lacking in stories and it some times feels good know you can relate to a character that's just like you. There are a lot of caucasian actors on TV and movies and rarely any other type of race. It just gets boring from time to time.

I'm not saying that there isn't a serious lack of other ethnicities in online fiction because there is (not just races, ethnicities as well). For example, I'm Jewish, but I rarely come across any stories that feature Jewish characters, but that doesn't really bother me. I don't like how some people try to imply just because someone writes about mainly white characters that they're racist or something, when that isn't necessarily true.

When I'm reading stories, I don't really key into race that much, so the lack of diversity doesn't bother me, but maybe that's just me as a reader. Maybe it doesn't bother me because I'm the majority.

Icamane-Sandwich:

That's exactly how I see it.
Although, even though I may have mainly white characters, I like throwing in other ethnicities in there. French, Italian, and Spanish are my most frequent ones.

You mean you're not Michael Jackson? ...my life is a lie.

Pssht, I wish. I'd be rich

I mean, it's not like I write exclusively about caucasian people, but when I write, I don't really focus that much on race. I don't want it to come across as forced. I write about Carlos Pena rather frequently, but I tend to write him as Carlos as I perceive him and not like, "oh he's latino, i'm going to rub his race in everyone's face. bring on the enchiladas." If that makes any sense.

^Oh, I agree and I don't find only writing about white characters racist at all. I've never said or believed in that. I'm not going to start a petition or anything, but I think it's something we've all noticed. If I want a black character I'll just write one, but it always turns out as someone thinking of a different race. I've said before that I don't even state the race of my characters unless I need to or obviously isn't needed if it's fanfiction.

^ Oh, I wasn't saying that you were personally, but that's how it seems at times in general. I think a lot of people write it the way that you do, not upfront stating the race, so there could possibly be a ton of multicultural characters that readers just don't pick up on because they're envisioning the character the way they perceive them, not the way that the author does. I write fanfiction, so race is kinda obvious in my case the majority of the time.

I'm not trying to come across as rude or anything along those lines, but the previous person was questioning why people write about white people so much, and I was giving my explanation.

Well on my behalf I don't particularly think of it as racist. I actually think of it as a lack of taste of your own race if you completely withdraw yourself from writing about characters of your own race.

Icamane-Sandwich:

That's exactly how I see it.
Although, even though I may have mainly white characters, I like throwing in other ethnicities in there. French, Italian, and Spanish are my most frequent ones.

I don't consider French, Italian or Spanish a different race. To me they're still white. They just have different heritage's and nationalities, not race.

^I agree with the last part too. Those are ethnicities and I see that as white. Race and ethnicity are two different things to comprehend.

ayanasioux:

I don't consider French, Italian or Spanish a different race. To me they're still white. They just have different heritage's and nationalities, not race.

I didn't say they were different races, I said they were different ethnicities. There's a difference.