White character: *murders an innocent person for power*
Fandom: He had no choice!
Character of color: *shows mercy*
Fandom: How weak, he never did anything!
White character: *stalks, harasses, and exploits vulnerable characters, in large part for their own gain*
Fandom: He's doing the best he can!
Character of color: *hurts someone in the process of saving their life, with the only other option being to let them die*
Fandom: He's no better than a rapist!
White character: *lies frequently, lashes out at loved ones in anger, and hurts an innocent person just because they are feeling hurt*
Fandom: He's been through a lot!
Character of color: *takes a while to recover from trauma and assault and needs time to feel safe around a person who tried to kill him*
Fandom: He's emotionally abusive! He's manipulative!
White character: *manipulates and lies to others*
Fandom: He's practical! He's getting things done!
Character of color: *manipulates and lies to others*
Fandom: HOW DARE HE?!
White character: *makes a plan we don't see the entirety of until after it happens*
Fandom: How clever!
Character of color: *makes a plan we don't see the entirety of until after it happens*
Fandom: How manipulative!
White character: *murders an innocent member of their family for power*
Fandom: He's just trying to preserve the rest of his family and help the community!
Character of color: *actually tries to help his family*
Fandom: He's selfish for helping his own family instead of everyone else's families!
White character: *is actually seen hurting someone in the canon material*
Fandom: The show is distorting events to make the hero of the show look like a hero!
Character of color: *actually goes through harm and trauma*
Fandom: It's made up/exaggerated! They should be able to recover right away!
White character: *does something shitty*
Fandom: He's traumatized! He has a mental illness!
Character of color: *makes a mistake they tried to avoid before it happened and try to rectify after*
Fandom: Trauma/mental illness is no excuse for anything!
White character: *background or recurring character with a simple/superficial story*
Fandom: Here's a million and one headcanons and AUs that we'll perpetuate so far that people don't realize they never actually happened in the show!
Character of color: *main character of the show, engaging story line, and deep narrative*
Fandom: This character is so boring! Nothing ever happens, he never changes, and he never does anything!
