@RodimusConvoy said:

That was my point all along. He's not a badass, and he does have "nice moves" as you put it, but to do what he does he needs training otherwise its only a matter of time before he's killed, even with Winn helping him out. The writers, consciously or unconsciously, have made it a point to show this in nearly every one of his showings, if he's not on his back its a win by a hair.

Here's the irony though: if James is damned either way, relegated to being the sexless (notice everyone is seeing someone now even Winn BUT James), token black guy, I'd have rather they went the other direction and actually made him one tier or two below Batman in terms of fighting. People would scream bloody murder but they're doing it anyway so might as well make it fun.

But for all the good the Berlanti shows do, management of black males is not one of them, Flash notwithstanding.

I've tried not to focus too much on the fact that James hasn't gotten a random, one-night fling or something like that on the show, but to be honest, I won’t allow myself to focus too much on James because I know he’s going to be neglected. I wouldn’t even expect him to walk in with a woman that he’s known for a while. I find it cruel to black people to put a black character in a show just to neglect that character’s characterization. I have an indifference to black characters in white shows because they won’t be treated as human beings. I’m often reading comments about how James is too mucho this or too arrogant that, and I have to ask myself, “Are we watching the same program?” I see a character that the other characters scorn on the screen and belittled in every way fashionable. I’m actually relieved when he’s not in the program because I don’t have to worry about him being emasculated. In addition, the black characters often come across as emotionless like when Kara broke up with James. He didn’t have a visceral response to that, and it caused some of the people who actually liked James to decathect from the character. Who wants to put any cathexis in a character with no feelings? The showrunner isn’t allowing for us to see James’ human side. I have to repeat in my mind that James isn’t going to have any of the benefits of the other characters, and he won’t be humanized; therefore, I shouldn’t expect him to be treated like a human being on the show. I dread seeing a black character in an all-white cast because I know the character will be treated differently with a strong indifference to his or her characterization. He will squirm in the background almost unnoticed, and then when he is noticed the other cast members demean him. I would think black people watching black people in white shows from the time they’re little kids to adulthood would be crazy and suicidal with the way they see themselves treated daily. Imagine what seeing scenes like the one with James and Snapper where Snapper emasculated James in front of his subordinates? In what world would a professional walk in on the job—for no apparent reason—and emasculate his boss, and still have a job? Moreover, I often wondered about the human being behind the character, the black man or black woman in Hollywood who loves acting so much, but will have to play a role deleterious to the subconscious minds of their people. It has to be painful on some level to come to work, read the script, go to make up, stand in front of the camera, and be emasculated for all your people to see, and carry a smile at the end of the day. How does an old black actor look in the mirror knowing they played a litany of characters with no feelings, no back story, no humanization, and or anything that leaves a lasting impression in the hearts and minds of the black youth?

@shenandoahok said:

I've tried not to focus too much on the fact that James hasn't gotten a random, one-night fling or something like that on the show

I wasn't talking about that. All of the major characters now have a romantic pairing except James. Even though Winn's girlfriend is moving at light speed its more than a "one-night fling" she's going to play into the story for the long haul.

That is what is infuriating about this show. Apparently they do have it in them to develop relationships, look at how much time they have spent on Alex and Maggie. They are choosing not to put that same care and attention into James and a significant other, and they can't say that that is coincidence at this point. "Sexless" wasn't meant to imply he should be having one-night stands, its meant to imply they don't want him having a regular monogamous relationship onscreen.

but to be honest, I won’t allow myself to focus too much on James because I know he’s going to be neglected. I wouldn’t even expect him to walk in with a woman that he’s known for a while. I find it cruel to black people to put a black character in a show just to neglect that character’s characterization. I have an indifference to black characters in white shows because they won’t be treated as human beings.

His treatment was ok on CBS, but once the show went to the CW this happened. I feel like it was by design. People online complained very loudly at the idea of a handsome black man with an attractive white woman, a white woman who was the title star of the show no less. If Berlanti wanted to cave to that, fine, but neglecting James in the process is not. My problems with Guardian seem to stem from the fact its a half-baked idea like they had to do something with him cause the optics would not be good if they fired him. What I fear they are doing, however, is creating an environment where he wants to quit.

I’m often reading comments about how James is too much this or too arrogant that, and I have to ask myself, “Are we watching the same program?” I see a character that the other characters scorn on the screen and belittled in every way fashionable. I’m actually relieved when he’s not in the program because I don’t have to worry about him being emasculated. In addition, the black characters often come across as emotionless like when Kara broke up with James. He didn’t have a visceral response to that, and it caused some of the people who actually liked James to decathect from the character. Who wants to put any cathexis in a character with no feelings? The showrunner isn’t allowing for us to see James’ human side.

Yes. I've seen this on many messageboards myself. My favorite is if there's an abundance of black characters, token or not, somehow NONE of them can't act, hear some people tell it. The sight of black people, especially black males, on screen infuriates people so much the only way they can articulate that anger is saying they are doing things they are not, and in some cases that they are doing the opposite of what they are accusing them of.

This is why I said James is damned either way. What's that old saying, give a mouse a cookie he'll ask for milk? The producers caved to splitting up James and Kara. Whatever they did to him from the point on would no longer please them. Its like being a sore winner. Now, they want him gone altogether, even if no Guardian (badass or not) came about.

I have to repeat in my mind that James isn’t going to have any of the benefits of the other characters, and he won’t be humanized; therefore, I shouldn’t expect him to be treated like a human being on the show. I dread seeing a black character in an all-white cast because I know the character will be treated differently with a strong indifference to his or her characterization. He will squirm in the background almost unnoticed, and then when he is noticed the other cast members demean him.

This is the problem I have with Mr. Terrific. He's treated like a joke. Jax has a better showing on Legends, but even there he's now relegated to staying on the ship most times and a fling in this case, will not happen, not with him. It seems to be reserved for the other characters, especially Sara.

Whatever is going on with Flash that they are the lone exception to all of this I hope it continues.

I would think black people watching black people in white shows from the time they’re little kids to adulthood would be crazy and suicidal with the way they see themselves treated daily. Imagine what seeing scenes like the one with James and Snapper where Snapper emasculated James in front of his subordinates? In what world would a professional walk in on the job—for no apparent reason—and emasculate his boss, and still have a job?

Sadly it mirrors reality. James showing any sort of backbone would have been met with hatred online, no matter the context.

Moreover, I often wondered about the human being behind the character, the black man or black woman in Hollywood who loves acting so much, but will have to play a role deleterious to the subconscious minds of their people. It has to be painful on some level to come to work, read the script, go to make up, stand in front of the camera, and be emasculated for all your people to see, and carry a smile at the end of the day. How does an old black actor look in the mirror knowing they played a litany of characters with no feelings, no back story, no humanization, and or anything that leaves a lasting impression in the hearts and minds of the black youth?

Here's the thing, I agree with everything you've said, heck I've said it myself. But the sad fact of the matter is this. If black people want good representation, they're going to have to do it themselves. Leaving it to other people will lead to this, and any socio-political problems or animus from said problems will be put on display. I promise if James was white like he is in the comics, we wouldn't be having this conversation. He would either still be Kara's love interest, or he'd be the Guardian but more well thought out.

The sad truth is for the most part the people behind these shows do not care what effect seeing black people not humanized will have on young black people watching the show. Their actions do not bare this out. So its up to black people to somehow take control of how their image is presented. To that end I tend to support any endeaver where that happens.

And to be clear, even though I say black people, IMO I feel black men in particular need better showings on TV. Something other than never having a love interest but being a good friend to everyone (James) or father/mentor figure (Joe on Flash). I don't trust the Berlanti shows to do this and frankly I'm starting to think I should never have expected them to in the first place.