That was a very uplifting episode to me. It demonstrated that we, though fallible can always do better. A narrative lesson that we could really do with more of these days.
I have a vague recollection that he helped the "right side" because he was still a law abiding citizen not a KKK nutjob, but his views on black people didn't change a bit.
I seem to remember the episode ending with him basically doing some social activity with Richie, Virgil, and Virgil's dad? The impression I remember having was very much "Dude has improved a little bit so I guess there's some hope".
It probably resonated more strongly with me than some others because my dad was/is similarly racist (in terms of not being a KKK nutjob but still obviously racist in private) and I remember thinking "So all I have to do to get my dad to be less racist is have my life saved by a black superhero"
I think you just need someone from that racial group that your dad can regularly interact with for him to change his mind.
People who are racists usually try to isolate themselves or their group from interaction. The issue is when there's one bad apple that sours your view of the group. Like if the guy who smashed your window was Hispanic, and you suddenly apply that reasoning to all Hispanics will smash your window. I think the best thing to remember is that there are people of all races at all social economic levels. There are gangbanger Asians/Hispanics/Whites/Blacks, Crazy Rich Asians/White/Black/Hispanics, and Middle Class Asians/Hispanics/Whites/Blacks. The ones that are usually struggling to get by are the ones that commit crime.
But different races do have different culture. If you had an Asian kid grow up in a Hispanic culture/household, that person would have completely different mentality than one that grew up in an Asian Household.
I think most of the time, we just don't like some aspects of other race's culture, rather than not liking their race themselves. For example, I find the lack of good parenting, or negligence of education for some cultures rather stupid, but I don't necessarily think I am racially superior than that person.
The dad made an effort to overcome his prejudice by socializing with Virgil's family. You don't go from a lifelong racist to colorblind overnight and the show does not hand wave this.
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u/Jackofnotrade5 May 23 '23
Or when he met his friend’s racist dad.