Funny how they only get angry now.
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For decades, all-white TV shows (the majority, of course) barely raised an eyebrow among most white viewers. Then along comes Netflix's Luke Cage, starring a predominantly black cast.
The series features an African-American superhero, and is set in the historically black New York neighbourhood of Harlem. After debuting last week, the praise came thick and fast. According to Vox, it is the "the boldest thing Marvel has ever done" – and its "most powerful" TV venture. It has a 96 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes, beating Marvel's other Netflix series Daredevil (86 per cent) and Jessica Jones (93 per cent). And the Metacritic website, which aggregates critics' scores, currently gives the show a "universal acclaim" rating.
But not everyone is happy.
Unaccustomed to not being the centre of entertainment, some white viewers accused Netflix of "extremely racist programming". Here's what they bleated on Twitter:
Lack of white people in Luke Cage makes me uncomfortable. This show is racist, how is this on Netflix???— ᴇʟᴇᴄᴛʀɪᴄʟᴏᴠᴇʟʏʟᴀɴᴅ (@CommanderLovely) October 2, 2016
#LukeCage is extremely racist programming. There's a massive lack of diversity, and if I've learned anything it's that we always need it.— Autistotle (@villainial) October 4, 2016
Is it me or the new Netflix. Luke Cage a little racist. Notice it's mostly black where is the diversity. @LIVE_COVERAGE— LiberalsUnited (@RockerThompson) September 28, 2016
my review of Marvels Luke Cage.... mehhh its okay... not enough white people— the beast (@Evil_Death_) September 30, 2016
The racist white cop trope is a racist trope. #LukeCage https://t.co/SbTCYCcqr7— EscapeVelocity (@EscapeVelo) September 30, 2016
Where is the diversity. Does diversity mean no white people? #LukeCage— Brighton Whytock (@brightonus33) September 30, 2016
In response, people pointed out just a sampling of shows with all-white casts. (And no, having non-white "guests" doesn't earn you a gold medal.)
In 7th Heaven, even the dogs are white. Photo: Supplied
'The One Where We Didn't Cast Any Black People' ... oh, wait. Photo: Supplied
Neighbours, everybody needs (prime time-friendly white) neighbours... Photo: Supplied
Best I not weigh in on this topic, frankly. Photo: Supplied
In fairness, no self-respecting black person would be seen in a suede vest with a high-waisted pin-striped 'pant', as white people call them. Photo: Supplied
A show about nothing ... except white people. Photo: Supplied
As long as the bachelor doesn't appear biased by evicting the token non-white woman too soon, that's what matters. Photo: Supplied
In light of ongoing police violence against black people, Luke Cage's showrunner, Cheo Hodari Coker, said of his lead character: "I will never get tired of seeing a bulletproof black man."
But for some, a show with a mostly black cast – in an entertainment world still dominated by white faces – isn't a step forward. Rather, they see their own reflection as the default setting.
Recently, author Benjamin Law – whose memoir The Family Law was adapted into six-part series for SBS – gave a speech on screen diversity. Afterwards, one man explained he simply made all his characters white because it's "neutral".
When Law asked him to explain how white is neutral, he was met with a long silence.
Another man sought his help with a dilemma: "If I throw an Asian [character into my screenplay] and there's a joke, everyone will say I'm picking on the Asian."
Law had a crazy idea: why not cast two Asian characters? Another baffled pause ensued.
As for those aggrieved by the "reverse racism" of a show featuring mostly black people, there was no shortage of people shutting that nonsense down:
white people who are like "i don't see race" are the same people who are like "why are there no white ppl in luke cage this is racist"— irl jan (@rhodeytony) October 1, 2016
People are more upset about #LukeCage than police brutality - says a lot about the fabric of this country wouldn't you say?— Ray Dawn (@RayDawnThe86th) October 4, 2016
If you think "Luke Cage" is racist, go uptown to Harlem. Tell them that I sent you.— The Low Key Legend (@CoryTownes) October 4, 2016
White folks upset Luke Cage has a black cast. For the millionth time, reverse racism doesn't exist. Ya'll already been included everywhere.— Spooky PantheR (@____PantheR) October 4, 2016
We throw viewers into the deep end of the pool of black culture, but don't thrash. Relax. You'll float if you allow it.— Cheo Hodari Coker (@cheo_coker) October 4, 2016
Some other super-white TV shows
3rd Rock from the Sun: A bunch of aliens must pretend to be "average" Americans. This is what America looks like, apparently:
'Normal' equals 'white', doesn't it? Photo: Supplied
Family Ties: The parents were ex-hippies ... who opposed their son's conservative politics, while mixing mainly with other white people:
Can we just make our theme song a little more corny? Photo: Supplied
Home Improvement: According to Wikipedia, this top-rating '90s sitcom is "based on the stand-up comedy of Tim Allen". No wonder there's a preponderance of white people:
We're actually holding the frame inside the photo! Could we be any more adorable/nauseating? Photo: Supplied
Wonderland: When this Channel Ten drama debuted in 2013, Australian actor Remy Hii was puzzled. "Wonderland is about how ten people living in Bondi have got by without befriending 1 person of non-anglo descent," he tweeted. Good point.
In Bondi, one in five people speak a language other than English at home ... or so we've heard. Photo: Supplied
Dawson's Creek: Even the damn theme song sounded white.
Let's talk about our emotions, cry, then talk about our emotions some more. What could be whiter than that? Photo: Supplied