Harry Potter and the One Black Character

George Harris as Kingsely Shacklebolt

Harry Potter has become a national phenomenon in the past ten years, one that I have only started to participate in the past year or so since I read the book series. The premise of Harry Potter is a make-believe world made up of people with magical powers - witches and wizards - who exist along with muggles, or ordinary people. The series follows the coming of age of its protagonist, Harry, over a period of seven years during his training at Hogwarts school of wizardry and witchcraft. It is classified as young-adult fantasy fiction, and as such offers an escape into the imagination for the readers and viewers of this alternative reality.

I did not think of Harry Potter (HP) in terms of multiculturalism until I began watching the most recent movie "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" a few days ago. When I began watching the movie I was surprised to find that there was one black character. Note that I was not surprised to find ONLY one black character, but rather I was surprised to find ANY black character. This is a new character that Rowling introduces into the 5th novel who goes by the name of Kingsley Shacklebolt. In the book she does not indicate that he is black, so I assume this is a liberty taken by Hollywood.

When I analyzed my reaction to the black character in Harry Potter, I had to ask myself some uncomfortable questions. 1) Why was I surprised to see a black character? 2) Why does seeing a black character not fit with my view of HP's reality? 3) How would a black person see the situation differently? This jarring experience brought to mind Peggy McIntosh's article on white privilege and her list of some of its daily effects. I think I can add a few more: 1) I can expect to identify with the hero or heroine of most Hollywood movies as sharing my white privilege 2) I can expect even a "fantasy" world to follow the rules of white privilege.

I don't purport that HP is essentially racist, but I do think it is an interesting slice of pop culture that shows how marginalized blacks still are in our society, and also the luxury whites have of ignoring it. Note: in the movie, Kingsley is on the good side - that is, he is part of the Order of the Phoenix that is fighting for the powers of good. So I think having a black character in the movie is a good thing, but I'm surprised that I sat up and took notice as much as I did. I guess since I have been programmed by my culture - as well as the four previous HP movies, of which all the main characters were white with the exception of one Asian - I should not be surprised at my own surprise!