WoT people are white and pale

[Vertex 23]

Why are there no black or asian people in WoT?

 

In most fantasy there seems to be no black humans but in lots there are other species like elves and orcs and girls... so why no black people?

 

Is it only because what we see in WoT is a little part of the world like ancient Europe? Or does white authors just think of black people as something that started to exist after fairytail time?

[Marie 73]

Well. In Seanchan(sp?) there are all races! Although, it's important to remember (or learn) that race is a social construct; it really is only skin deep. You can't have Asians without Asia..and WoT has no Asia!

 

However, they do have people who fit that ethnic group, and the same with blacks. Tuon is a short black woman with a shaved head. The Sea Folk are suppose to be black. Then there's Julian...I always saw him as black.

 

But yes, it is a very pale world they live in. People write about what they know. When I write the characters are usually mulatto/mixed/black and a few white guys thrown in.

[Vertex 23]

WoT has no caucasus either but there are Caucasian... So there could be all kinds of people if RJ had invented it like that. Do you think RJ might be rasistic unintentionally?

[Marie 73]

No. I mean, in most fantasies you don't get anything but white people. In WoT he has included people of color.

[FortyFiveAuto 1]

Saldaeans are supposed to look Chinese/Mongolian.

[Marie 73]

Mixed with Russian maybe. *thinking of Sheriam*

[FortyFiveAuto 1]

Perhaps, but probably not too much. Sheriam has been repeatedly referred to as an anomaly of her race. Maybe her mother slept with an Aielman?

 

 

Aiel are the closest thing to Russian/Slavic. According to RJ, they speak with what we might call a slight Slavic accent.

[Marie 73]

Or just some guy from Andor. Although outside of the Aiel and Cairhienin RJ seems to like to mix things up color-wise. Seanchan and Tear are big ol' melting pots.

[FortyFiveAuto 1]

I'd say Tear would have folks most like today's Spaniards/Portuguese. Some are very light complected, and others more Mediterranean (olive to dark skin).

 

As for Seanchan I'd say you're spot-on. Perhaps RJ patterned it after America? It is the homologous region of the world.

 

The Athan Miere are pretty homogeneous. They're pretty much black.

[Marie 73]

Well the Spanish are a mixing pot in terms of coloring. I still have nightmares about that redheaded Spanish golfer. *shivers*

 

I've heard it said that Seanchan might be America in disguise. They do have a Texas accent after all.

[Vertex 23]

Well, if you guys says so *clueless about the finer details* It'd be cute if Thom had been black though with Moiraine being pale and all

[FortyFiveAuto 1]

[seanchan]Y'all better swear them there Oaths, podna.[/seanchan]

 

It's because in the future, Texas will pwn the US.

 

Go Texas!

[Marie 73]

I thought Texas all ready had?

 

Well, Vertex, I actually really like Tuon/Mat because I always find black women/white men so cute. And it's nice that one of the main characters is dating someone of a different color, and doesn't care. Well..not dating really so much as...whatever it is they did.

[FortyFiveAuto 1]

Well, let's see. Out of the WoT nations, only Andorans (non-two rivers), Cairhienin, Murandians, and Amadicians are really white. Maybe those from Tarabon as well. Everyone else is quite tan or even dark skinned.

[Vertex 23]

Well, tanned and olive skinned people are still most frequently caucasian... I think it would have been fun to see a more diverse group of main characters.