All Things KotLC

I'd Like to Address the Lack of Representation (of all types) in KotLC.

Hi there.

So this isn't my usual type of post, but after speaking out to so many friends about it, I've decided, whatever. This is an issue that really needs to be talked about. And also, instead of making a whole post about it, I've usually ranted to people, which doesn't really get you anywhere, although it is fun lol. But no, since it's MLK day today, I'd like to honor his memory by talking about diversity in kotlc.

This post is one I was planning on making and posting right on MLK day, let's see how it works out. If any of you are reading this and maybe made a diversity post on this, I hope you know that I don't mean to copy you in any way, and I purely want people to know about this issue.

That being said, I also want people to know that I don't mean to be offensive in any way, and I really just want this to be talked about more instead of being brought up once and then agreeing and letting the conversation drop. If you think I'm being offensive though, please let me know as I don't mean to sound rude in any way, and that I can just get really passionate and sort of...intense/caught up in issues I feel like really need to be talked about.

If you feel differently though, that's great for you, but I'd like to have a chance for my voice to be heard. Maybe you might not be as interested or passionate in this as me, but I really want this opportunity to inform everyone what I think. Of course, if you want to discuss some points with me in the comments, I'm totally down for that. Just please, be respectful of my opinion like I'm trying to be to everyone, and maybe listen to what I have to say before you be all "what lies, there is totally good diversity in this book, shannon's trying so hard!" I assure you, my experience as a POC makes what I have to say valuable, so please hear me out. Let's just say, I'm not afraid to write an entire thesis on this if that's what it'll take to make you listen. :)

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So, elves are perfect. Right? Or...are they not? That's the central conflict that Sophie has to uncover in keeper of the lost cities, and it's the main problem that Sophie has to discover in the 9+ books in this series. And we can assume that elves aren't perfect, from the many issues that come up in the series, but also, because of us. Humans. We certainly aren't perfect, right? And it's safe to assume that the elves were, at least in a small part, based on us. So we can assume that elves aren't either. And Sophie is trying so hard, along with her friends, to resolve the issues that exist in the elvin world.

But, does that mean that the majority of elves in the series need to appear as white? Does that show that heroes, or heroines, need to appear as white to save the day? Couldn't that just as easily be represented by someone who's a POC? Is that needed, and is that the only way to represent the point, that all elves are united and there is so much "variety" in the skin types and body types and disabilities and much more, like Della said in Neverseen, even though we certainly haven't seen it? That just makes all the elves seem boring and the same. No, really. Is it really necessary for a main hero, or heroine, to not be a POC, as so many stories like kotlc could be emphasizing?

Yes, I can hear you. It might not be exactly you, but I know some people are saying, no. Most people that I've talked to have said that there is diversity in kotlc, if you look for it. But my point is, you shouldn't NEED to look for it. It shouldn't be hidden. It should be in plain sight, wide open, for everyone to see. And certainly not at the end of the series when things are drawing to a close.

Let me present to you my case.

I've read a goodreads ask for Shannon that asks, why aren't there a lot of diverse characters in keeper of the lost cities? (This was at the time of lodestar's publication) and Shannon basically said that elves aren't really like humans, and that elves aren't exactly like that.