Diversity Strikes Again: CN to Reveal New Powerpuff Girl

On September 17th Cartoon Network will officially debut the newest member of the Powerpuff Girls and not everyone is happy about it. As the world evolves and acknowledges the importance of diversity, there remains those who refuse to accept that change is inevitable. There are some who are simply angry at the addition of a fourth member of the super heroine squad, which breaks away from the 1996 original series, while others are angered more by the new characters ethnicity. This post isn't about said racist, this post is to celebrate diversity which remains a center piece of conversations today. After all, for every Ed Skrein there's a Billy Magnusson.

Captured from a video online, ahead of the network premier, fans caught a glimpse of the soon to be member and it's easy to see she looks very different from her sisters (if she's a Powerpuff she must be a sister). The character is clearly African American with blue hair, a contrast that brought out the inner racist of many commenters online. Small criticism aside, there's high anticipation for the character to debut as her name and powers remain a mystery.

Needless to say, since their creation there has been a longing for an African American Powerpuff, with Buttercup coming to serve as a stand in with her tough talking and vernacular. 

One can only hope that the addition of this new character isn't only a special instance or one shot and that she will remain a mainstay in the series. Not only will this help the show teach and promote diversity but it will help to bandage a long time wound for African American fans of the show. We no longer have to imagine Buttercup as the "black" PPG, now we actually have one.

Tune in September 17th to find out all about the newest Powerpuff Girl.

Gotham: Will Bruce Become the 1st Robin

With Gotham scheduled to return from hiatus April 24 fans are left sitting on the edge of their seats in anticipation for the rest of the season. While many arcs come to a close, one in particular feels to finally be picking up the steam it has been longing for.

The season so far has seen Bruce delve further into the investigation of the Court of Owls, while showcasing his somewhat effective training from Alfred. Young Bruce is definitely being mold accordingly. All that was missing was an adversary and code, which were both ushered in by way of Jerome. After an inevitable climax Bruce is left reevaluating his mission and purpose leading Alfred to ask, "But what's all this training for? What are you gonna do with it?" I think we all know the answer.

As the show continues to establish its own Batman mythos, one has to wonder if we will see young Bruce take up the cape. All evidence seems to point to the likelihood of a young masked vigilante taking to the streets of Gotham very soon. While he may not technically assume the mantle of Robin, or take a name at all, Bruce as the first teenage masked vigilante fits perfectly with why Batman himself would be comfortable utilizing adolescent partners.

Only time will tell if young Bruce will transition into a vigilante by night. Gotham returns April 24, until then obsess over the spring promo below.

Controversial Repulican Mouthpiece Fired

Following reports of being suspended, it has been revealed that Tomi Lahren has been permanently banned from the Blaze, the network formally responsible for her often controversial television show. The fallout follows Lahren's appearance on the View where she declared that she is indeed pro-choice. “You know what? I’m for limited government, so stay out of my guns, and you can stay out of my body as well,” the conservative remarked.

While her statements may have surprised many, it also contradicts many of her previous statements and her former employer's firm stance on abortion. Following the fallout, the company has severed their relationship, as many expected.

I'm not going to applaud her for her newfound stance as if anything it only proves what many have speculated all along. She was a pretty face and mouthpiece for the Blaze reading from a script without much of any original thought of her own. Wisely, she used the much brighter spotlight of the View to attempt to separate herself from the Blaze and show the world she can form a sensible opinion. Regardless I am glad she's no longer on a platform to spew her hateful ideas. For now, of course, as it is likely that FOX news and its equivalents will try to poach her whenever the opportunity presents itself.

The Racist Case of Dr. Seuss

Whether one likes to admit it or not, information greatly shapes our daily lives and interactions. With newfound information opinions develop, shift and change in regards to science, politics and sometimes even people. When it comes to a person's legacy, how important are their past actions to your overall opinion of them? What if it were a lover? An employer? What if it was someone influencing your children? With the celebration of the birthday of children's author Dr. Seuss and the commencement of the annual Read Across America Day, stories began to appear online discussing Seuss's sordid past embroiled in racism. That's right, the beloved children's author is a noted racist but that shouldn't be surprising, instead we should be shocked that this well-kept secret wasn't such a secret after all.

     If not a deep hatred for minorities, Seuss harbored a great prejudice towards Japanese Americans and African Americans, which he so eloquently illustrated in his political cartoon drawings for a liberal New York paper beginning in 1941. The paper's mission was described as opposing people who push other people around just for the fun of pushing, whether in this country or abroad; however, in reality, the paper only served to alienate minorities and help further prejudices against Japanese citizens and Japanese Americans during World War II.

Tying Hitler's Nazi Germany and Japan into a dangerous partnership and labeling all Japanese citizens and Japanese Americans as threats to America, these groups became the target of Seuss' satirical illustrations.

     In his illustrations, Japanese were drawn to the likeness of having slanted eyes and over-sized teeth and were often described as yellow. Naturally, this led to a rise in hatred and aggression towards Japanese families, and his illustrations only became more heinous after the events of Pearl Harbor. Critics of Seuss usually cite a sense of Nationalism as the fuel behind his hatred, however, that does not excuse his actions nor does it correlate to his depiction of African Americans. During his tenure with the paper, Seuss' cartoons used racial slurs to refer to African Americans and drew his images to resemble monkeys.

Another highly racist act, and yet somehow this man, like so many before him, has been made a mainstay in American history and integrated into the lives of countless children. Minority and non-minority alike.

     Reactions to the news of Seuss’ racist past have ranged from some choosing to look past his actions to those that have decided to outright boycott his recognition. Each person is rightfully entitled to their opinion on the subject, but the question remains will you read Dr. Seuss to your child knowing his racist past?

New Year, Same Story: Same Crime, Different Charges

It's less than a week into the New Year and already we're seeing the same issues of unequal treatment and harsher punishment of P.O.C. when it comes to the American justice systems. On January 5 the news story began circulating of four Chicago youths who Facebook live streamed themselves attacking and tormenting a special needs teenager. Undoubtedly this is a terrible act, and all individuals involved should be punished for their actions. However, examining the case one can't help but notice a stark contrast to a similar case from last year involving similar circumstances with the only difference initially being the race of the attackers.

On October 23, 2015, an Idaho mentally disabled teenager was attacked by three of his peers – R.K. Howard (18), Tanner Ward (17), and an unnamed juvenile- following the team's football practice. Not only did the three teens physically assault the young man, but also sexually violated him with a coat hanger. Ward initiated the attack while Howard (pictured above) kicked the coat hanger several times while it was inserted into the victim’s rectum. It was an equally horrible and aggressive act, with stark unexpected results. Just last December, Howard reached a plea deal to avoid jail time despite his heinous crime. While initially charged with sexual penetration by use of a foreign object, Howard (miraculously) was able to plead to felony injury to a child and will receive only two to three years of probation and community service.

As swiftly as the story circulated, the four Chicago teens have been detained and each charged with a hate crime, felony aggravated kidnapping, aggravated unlawful restraint and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Their arrest took less than a day. The investigation involving Howard and company lasted several months before any charges were officially filed. In case you haven’t concluded, Howard is white while the four teens are African American.

The contrast between Howard's charges and that of the four Chicago individuals is alarming but not surprising when examining the recent string of charges reduced or dismissed against individuals who commit crimes against African American. Howard (and likely Ward) will be released back into society having learned nothing from his actions and likely to enact his hateful views and thoughts on others in the near future. The four Chicago teens, however, are highly likely to be processed and sent to prison without any type of rehabilitation, despite the chances that each were/are special needs students.

I want to remain hopeful that 2017 will be the year that equality will be incorporated into the notion of American justice for all but it is undoubtedly past due time to reconstruct our American justice system, because until we do it fails us all.