this post was submitted on 19 Feb 2024
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People talk a lot about the ethnic stereotyping of the original Power Rangers, what with the Black Ranger being black (and of course majorly into hip-hop), the Yellow Ranger being Asian and versed in several Asian stereotypes, and the leader being the straight white male (who then gets displaced as leader by another straight white male).
What we don't talk about is how, to spite all of that, it was still a huge step forward for the time to make it such a diverse cast. It was progress, warts and all.
The original idea was to make the Red Ranger Native American which...wow. But still... it'd also have been note worthy for the time too to put a Native American character in this line up, let alone as the leader.
Honorable mention to Billy who, to spite the character not being gay, the actor was (and got harassed for it). I know he's said he never made Billy gay, but I can't help but think there's a reason I identified with Billy as a kid, and not just because he was the nerd.
Keep in mind that he became the leader upon becoming the white ranger.
MAGAts: When I was a kid I loved the White Power ... Ranger
Everyone: Stop fuckin' saying it like that!
On behalf of the council of native Americans, the clear monolith that we are, Jason David Frank was already introduced into the list of Honorary Native Americans the moment he tried to beat the fuck out of Goldar without being able to morph. Even if he was made suddenly native despite not being one IRL.
Good luck finding an actual native decorated martial arts actor back in that day. We take every baby step we can get.
Matí, the heart ranger that could communicate with animals, was Native American, tho likely from South America.
Too bad Power Rangers had terrible working pay and working conditions... https://jacobin.com/2023/07/power-rangers-labor-exploitation-wga-sag-hollywood-nonunion#:~:text=The%20show%20and%20its%20toy,work%20environment%20under%20hazardous%20conditions
And inexcusibly formulaic.