TheAlmanac (talk | contribs) (Fixed typos and listed more potential sources of racism.) |
Connor Cabal (talk | contribs) (Moved background to xenophobia) |
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'''Also see:''' [[Xenophobia]] |
'''Also see:''' [[Xenophobia]] |
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| − | ==Background== |
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| − | There has been some speculation among [[trekkie|fan]] circles that some treatment of [[Vulcan]]s in certain episodes constitutes racism or prejudice on the part of the characters or writers. Examples of this include the episode [[VOY]]: "[[Alter Ego]]", in which [[Tuvok]]'s [[logic|logical]] nature is questioned at every turn and [[Harry Kim]]'s decision to follow Vulcan [[philosophy]] being looked down upon by the rest of the [[crew]]. At the same time, in "[[Blood Fever]]", [[Vorik]]'s affection for [[B'Elanna Torres]] is seen as foolish and annoying, even to B'Elanna, while [[Tom Paris]]' affection is seen as charming and fun. Yet another example is the [[DS9]] episode "[[Take Me Out to the Holosuite]]", which some believe has an anti-Vulcan slant to it, with the nature of Vulcan philosophy being seen as dull and boring, Sisko using the phrase "Vulcan logic" pejoratively on several occasions, and the Vulcans finally being mocked at the end of the episode. |
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Revision as of 14:25, 30 September 2007
Racism is the belief that one race is inherently superior or inferior due to certain characteristics, be they physical (e.g. skin, eye or hair color, or the genetic makeup of one's species) or cultural (e.g. a race's language, philosophy, religion, traditions, or level of technological development).
Earth regions that have experienced racism include the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries and Germany under the Nazi regime.
Benny Russell faced racism in 1950s New York City when he attempted to get his story published in Incredible Tales magazine, as it had a black captain in command of a space station. (DS9: "Far Beyond the Stars")
When Vic Fontaine's program was affected by the jack-in-the-box laid in it by programmer Felix, Benjamin Sisko admitted to Kasidy Yates that he eschewed the holo-program because he felt it ignored the suffering of African-Americans during the time period in which it was set. (DS9: "Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang")
However, racism was not limited to Humans. In the 23rd century, the natives of the planet Cheron conducted a devastating war based solely on the racial differences of its inhabitants. While both races of their planet were half white and half black, the sides of their body which displayed those colors varied. As a result the ruling class, which was white on the left side and black on the right, suppressed the other race in which the coloration was reversed. By 2268, the racial campaign by the ruling class and rebellion by the oppressed had rendered the planet nearly uninhabitable. (TOS: "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield")
When the Cardassians occupied Bajor, they believed themselves to be racially superior to Bajorans since they had much more advanced technology. (DS9: "Waltz")
Also see: Xenophobia