Wait…Was There A “Catwoman Is Black, So I’m Not Going To Watch It” Controversy For DCU’s Harley Quinn That I Wasn’t Aware Of?

 

 

 

C’mon people, are we still doing this?

In a recent interview with Digital Spy, Harley Quinn executive producer Patrick Schumacker is apparently “defending” the decision to change the race of Catwoman (voiced by Sanaa Lathan). Here’s what he had to say about creating a black depiction of a character that is typically white,

“It felt important, and it was an opportunity to do that with a character that has been primarily – at least in the comics, and in most of the film and television work – portrayed as Caucasian. So if you can do it, then why not?”

I’m unaware of any major controversy having to do with Catwoman being portrayed as a black woman, in fact, Patrick isn’t the first one to serve us a black Catwoman, that nod goes to director Pitof who directed the terrible live-action Catwoman starring Halle Berry. Patrick further waves his SJW flag by noting his writer’s room is as inclusive as possible but that more could be done.

Our Take

Again, I don’t recall any major problems arising regarding a black Catwoman. I, for one, don’t care and chances are if comments are being shown on Twitter of those having a disapproving attitude towards the change, then they are most likely just bots and don’t really represent real-life people in the slightest. Furthermore, there’s a huge difference between forced inclusivity and natural inclusivity. If I’m building a team of any kind, I don’t care what they look like or pray to, I want the best people on my team. Forced inclusivity is the notion that if someone is white, you shouldn’t hire them, and instead ONLY hire people because of their physical appearance. The former is making sure you’re getting the best players for your team because if I have the best team, then we’re going to get the best output, regardless of any external factors. The latter is contrived from Twitter tribalism, and shouldn’t be in the workplace.

I do have a problem with extreme SJW ideologies in a faux way to be perceived as “woke” having any sort of influence on a television series. I’m totally fine with an artist’s interpretation of characters and, quite frankly, Sanaa Lathan’s one of my favorite actresses anyway so if I get to see more of her I’m totally onboard. But, I refuse to believe that changing the racial identity of characters is in someway anything more than artistic license and not that of extreme political viewpoints undermining the fragility of a franchise.

Harley Quinn kicks off May 7th for UK’s E4 with season one. Season two is streaming now on DC Universe.