Chapter 24 p4 – You will Rue this day
Jul13
Cohen!Cybele: I don’t mind! I’ll change.
Bennett: Oh, sure, now it’s weird.
[GLOW!]
[WHOOSH!]
[FLUTTER!]
Sparrow: Didn’t you say this one usually shows up as a little black girl?
Miranda: Mmhmm.
Sparrow: Is this a sneaky attempt to make us go easier on you?
Bennett: A-ha! Liberal Racism.
Sparrow: Oh, for the love of . . .
Not gonna lie, Sparrow’s assumption seems pretty backwards to me considering I was already dreading the possible unfortunate connotations of experimentation on a young black girl, and was wondering how you were planning on getting around that. So I honestly immediately had the exact opposite assumption as Sparrow, that Cybele was choosing a form people might have less hangups about experimenting on. Is that just me? Not that a young child is, y’know, a good choice in general but still.
I think the logic being taken is that, if you assume racism, more sympathy will be taken to a “same” (white) human as opposed to an “other” (black) human. In the same sense that historically blacks were given poorer treatment, Cybelle would be attempting to garner sympathy and better treatment by appearing as white and therefore more relatable.
The opposite logic – that Cybelle was easing the awkwardness of experimenting on a black child by becoming white – only works if Cybelle is a devious social manipulator who believes that Sparrow and gang are socially conscious individuals who are acutely aware of, and bothered by, the concept of experimenting on a black individual, and is trying to get make the scientists feel less bad about putting her in danger.
From Sparrow’s perspective, it makes more sense to assume Cybelle is trying to avoid harm to herself rather than invite it, and so the logic presented in the comic is the most likely assumption to make.
This of course has nothing to do with Cybelle’s perspective or her true motives.
I agree that the line of reasoning makes sense for Sparrow’s perspective, and from what we know of her character. I was merely surprised by how jarringly different her perspective on the matter was from my own. I disagree that it’s the most likely assumption to make.
I do see the idea of Sparrow assuming racism, because she does seem to assume the worst in people. I don’t think that it’s “normal’ to assume racism in others though. Or rather, I suppose, I legitimately hope that’s not a normal assumption. It’s just not a healthy frame of mind, and is the kind of mindset likely to generate a rather awful confirmation bias if not a bit of self fulfilling prophecy. Plus in this case assuming Racism in a being just feels illogical.
Beyond that, I really don’t see how considering the feelings of others constitutes devious or manipulative. To me that seems like common decency to try and think about how things might make others uncomfortable and to act accordingly. Especially when dealing with people you aren’t trying to actively antagonize. Now I’ll grant that Cybelle legitimately is a ‘devious social manipulator’ and perhaps you simply mean that my foreknowledge about Cybelle’s character colored my logic. Which I will accept is very possible, though frankly Sparrow’s way of seeing the situation didn’t even occur to me until I read her line, which was why it surprised me enough I felt the need to comment and see what others thought.
Anyways, thank you for the comment Charidan. I legitimately appreciate it. I may not agree with the idea that Sparrow’s assumption is the most likely one to make but your comment helped me at least remember that it’s an appropriately in character for her. Thank you very much for taking the time to respond in such length as well. Furthermore, I’m glad to have gotten a measured reasonable response that didn’t look at me like I was completely bonkers, that’s at least somewhat reassuring. :)
I wanted so badly not to like Cohen but he’s hilarious
It sounds like you mean Bennett?
Is the page title a pun on ‘The Hunger Games’?
Oh yes. Specifically, on the people who were upset when a black actress was cast in the role, because they had been picturing a “sweet, innocent white girl.”