Racism: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
This page is about the ''racism'' that is clear and ever-present in [[Tolkien]]'s published works. There are several very subtle racist elements as well as various clear racist themes. This page is here just to point out these things, not to judge Tolkien himself as a racist. | This page is about the ''racism'' that is clear and ever-present in [[Tolkien]]'s published works. There are several very subtle racist elements as well as various clear racist themes. This page is here just to point out these things, not to judge Tolkien himself as a racist. | ||
==Evil Men== | ==Evil Men== | ||
One of the clear racist elements in the Tolkien universe is the noticeable fact that all of the evil forces are the dark-skinned African and Asian influenced peoples of [[Easterlings]] and [[Southrons]]. The Easterlings are usually depicted as a Mongolian and Middle-eastern culture and are always aligned with [[Morgoth]] or [[Sauron]] with the single exception of [[Bór]]. A clear racist mention is the title "The Black" of [[Ulfang]] The Black, who was an Easterling. The Easterlings are often described as being of fairly dark skin complexion, swarthy and exceedingly cruel. The [[Southrons]] (or [[Haradrim]]) however, are clearly depicted mainly as African soldiers with some Indian influences such as fighting on [[Mumakil|elephant]]-back. They are clearly stated to be black-skinned and cruel, evil, and uncompromising. They often have many piercings, tattoos and scarifications, just like many African tribes. | One of the clear racist elements in the Tolkien universe is the noticeable fact that all of the evil forces are the dark-skinned African and Asian influenced peoples of [[Easterlings]] and [[Southrons]]. The Easterlings are usually depicted as a Mongolian and Middle-eastern culture and are always aligned with [[Morgoth]] or [[Sauron]] with the single exception of [[Bór]]. A clear racist mention is the title "The Black" of [[Ulfang]] The Black, who was an Easterling. The Easterlings are often described as being of fairly dark skin complexion, swarthy and exceedingly cruel. The [[Southrons]] (or [[Haradrim]]) however, are clearly depicted mainly as African soldiers with some Indian influences such as fighting on [[Mumakil|elephant]]-back. They are clearly stated to be black-skinned and cruel, evil, and uncompromising. They often have many piercings, tattoos and scarifications, just like many African tribes. Another racist element is the fact that the [[Numenorians]] who suvived the destruction of [[Numenor]] yet were still loyal to [[Sauron]] were called [[Black Numenorians]] and were described as dark-skinned and evil, in sharp contrast to the white [[Dunadane]]. | ||
==[[Orcs]]== | ==[[Orcs]]== | ||
The racist element present in orcs is not quite as plain and clear as the evil men, though it is present. The main racism in orcs is that they are always depicted as black-skinned, though this may be due to their filthiness. Orcs also often resemble monkeys (black people resembling monkeys being a main racist claim). [[Peter Jackson]]'s [[Lord of the Rings]] depicts the orcs as of a dark skin complexion, but again this may be due just to the fact that they are covered with filth. Another possible offensive theme present in orcs (though not necessarily racist), is the fact that when the orcs talk, they often use the same phrases and accents that the English working-class is known to use. | The racist element present in orcs is not quite as plain and clear as the evil men, though it is present. The main racism in orcs is that they are always depicted as black-skinned, though this may be due to their filthiness. Orcs also often resemble monkeys (black people resembling monkeys being a main racist claim). [[Peter Jackson]]'s [[Lord of the Rings]] depicts the orcs as of a dark skin complexion, but again this may be due just to the fact that they are covered with filth. Another possible offensive theme present in orcs (though not necessarily racist), is the fact that when the orcs talk, they often use the same phrases and accents that the English working-class is known to use. | ||
Revision as of 00:04, 16 April 2008
This page is about the racism that is clear and ever-present in Tolkien's published works. There are several very subtle racist elements as well as various clear racist themes. This page is here just to point out these things, not to judge Tolkien himself as a racist.
Evil Men
One of the clear racist elements in the Tolkien universe is the noticeable fact that all of the evil forces are the dark-skinned African and Asian influenced peoples of Easterlings and Southrons. The Easterlings are usually depicted as a Mongolian and Middle-eastern culture and are always aligned with Morgoth or Sauron with the single exception of Bór. A clear racist mention is the title "The Black" of Ulfang The Black, who was an Easterling. The Easterlings are often described as being of fairly dark skin complexion, swarthy and exceedingly cruel. The Southrons (or Haradrim) however, are clearly depicted mainly as African soldiers with some Indian influences such as fighting on elephant-back. They are clearly stated to be black-skinned and cruel, evil, and uncompromising. They often have many piercings, tattoos and scarifications, just like many African tribes. Another racist element is the fact that the Numenorians who suvived the destruction of Numenor yet were still loyal to Sauron were called Black Numenorians and were described as dark-skinned and evil, in sharp contrast to the white Dunadane.
Orcs
The racist element present in orcs is not quite as plain and clear as the evil men, though it is present. The main racism in orcs is that they are always depicted as black-skinned, though this may be due to their filthiness. Orcs also often resemble monkeys (black people resembling monkeys being a main racist claim). Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings depicts the orcs as of a dark skin complexion, but again this may be due just to the fact that they are covered with filth. Another possible offensive theme present in orcs (though not necessarily racist), is the fact that when the orcs talk, they often use the same phrases and accents that the English working-class is known to use.
Good Side
All of the good men and elves are all always very fair and white. The men of Rohan are clearly modeled after the Norse, and the men of Gondor and the Elves are just general Europeans. The single good non-white person was again; Bór. The entire Tolkien universe is the white West versus the non-white rest of the continent, which is an allegory to the white Europeans versus the non-white Africa and Asia.
