If a movie doesn't have any main characters of race, is it a racist movie?

Question

http://colorlines.com/archives/2010/07/the_kids_are_all_right_but_not_the_race_politics.html?fbc_channel=1

This article discusses both race and LGBT issues. It claims that The Kids Are All Right is "messed up on race" because it involves a white family as the main characters. Out of the supporting characters, "only" three of the six are not white. Of course, if the characters were in proportion to the actual non-white population in the US, there would only be 1.5 ethnic characters. But no, if one the main characters isn't ethnic (even though they're a family and all RELATED, which would make it impossible for them to be of any other race), then the movie is racist. And of course, they say that this is all reflecting on the gay community, which is apparently racist and horrible.

Does this seem incredibly stupid to anyone else? Does anyone agree with it? If so, why? It doesn't seem to make sense that we can't be allowed to make movies about white people any more... In my opinion, this kind of stupidity is what keeps racism alive. By yelling "racist!!" at every little thing, you simply perpetuate fear of racism and encourage people to be spiteful about race. What do you guys think, LGBT?

? · Accepted Answer

Ricky, the movie isn't racist, but the article clearly is.  The site that hosts it, "colorlines" is a product of the ARC which "seeks racial justice."  It's the kind of journalism that would only appeal to someone who subscribes to at least some racist sentiments.  Just because a movie doesn't feature minority characters in the leading roles does not make the movie racist as the article suggests.  Colorlines should be supportive of the three minority characters that "were" included in the film, since its entirely possible this family may not know or interact with any minorities at all.  As long as sites like this continue to focus on race by skin color, racism will continue.  It is one thing to "seek racial justice" and quite another to reverse discriminate.  The fact is that there is only one race...the human race.  Race by skin color is a social construct.  There is no "white race" or "black race."  Humans all share the same DNA and are all various shades of brown.  Colorlines would more effectively combat racism, if that truly were its goal, if it promoted an informative message of unity, instead of perpetuating the very divisions it claims to fight.

Zhule · Answer

some people just feel that if a movie is going to address one issue it should address them all.  its kind of stupid to say that a main character must be ethnic for the movie not to be racist.  since that kind of says that "nothing ever happens to white people unless there is an ethnic close relation."

Shaun W · Answer

That is a stupid concept in every which way.

k · Answer

yes it does seem stupid and it seems like reverse racism to me.

dave · Answer

of race like brown and pink or of race like felis demistius and homo erect us

If a movie doesn't have any main characters of race, is it a racist movie?

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