Tips For Writing Black Characters

Tips For Writing Black Characters

Since some of y’all don’t know how to write Black characters, I decided to give you some tips. My fellow Black people can add onto this if they’d like.

Not all Black people are from the United States. The U.S. just has the largest population of Black people in the world due to slavery. There are Black people from Europe, Asia, South America, the Caribbean, and the motherland Africa. We aren’t limited to one country or continent. 

PLEASE DO NOT WRITE DARK SKIN BLACK WOMEN AS RATCHET. The stereotype is rooted in both racism and colorism as the “strong Black woman” trope has been used to defeminize dark skin Black woman and even deny them healthcare. Make feminine dark skin Black women!

People mixed with Black ARE Black People. I shouldn’t have to explain this.

Lightskin =/=  Mixed race. There are light skin people with fully Black parents and they still come out like that. Yes you can have mixed race characters that have light skin but most light skins come from fully Black parents.

Don’t make most of us athletes, singers, or rappers. Some Black people want to do writing, some Black people want to make video games. Just because we dominate a few things doesn’t mean that most of us want to do said things.

Don’t be afraid to make queer, disabled, or neurodivergent Black characters. Most Black people aren’t represented in those communities, so making Black characters apart of said communities would be really great to see.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT MAKE JOKES ABOUT OUR RACE. Your watermelon jokes aren’t funny. Your fried chicken jokes aren’t funny. Racism isn’t comedy.

DO NOT REDUCE US TO THE BEST FRIEND/M*MMY TROPE. Do not make your Black characters dependent on the white protag or make them their “parent”. Black characters’ only personality traits shouldn’t be the shoulder for the protag to cry on.

Put Black people in subcultures were Black people aren’t prevalent. I wanna see Black punks. I wanna see Black lolitas. I wanna see Black indie girls and boys. Black people aren’t always hood. We can still like rap music but still be apart of different subcultures.

DO NOT FETISHIZE US. DO NOT. Don’t make Black women’s bodies a fetish. Don’t make Black men’s bodies a fetish. We are not a fetish.

Please look up common Black hairstyles and the history of them. Treat Black hair with care. Do not put non Black characters in box braids or cornrolls because those are protective styles for Black women.

Please look up Black hair types. Not all Black people have the same hair type.

DO NOT WRITE NON-BLACK CHARACTERS SPEAKING IN EBONICS. JUST DON’T.

I hope this guide on how to write Black characters. Reblogs > Likes

stay?

pairing: tony x black!reader

word count: 567

summary: you have powers that allow to see a persons past based on their emotions they are feeling. one night you just happen to see tony’s

part 2: someone to love

warnings: angst, panic attacks, ptsd, survivors guilt.

a/n: this bad based off of this tiktok i saw today

masterlist

i was in my room reading my book when a wave of panic washed over me, i felt my chest tightening and my breathing quicken. i knew what is was but i didn’t know who it would be coming from this late at night.

suddenly tony’s memories flooded my mind, i felt tears prick my eyes as all of his painful memories clouded my brain.

when it was finally over i ran out of my room and to tony’s, i didn’t bother to knock i walked in and saw him trying to control his breathing. i walked up to his bed and got in, i pulled his body into mine and ran my hands through his hair gently.

“breathe with me” i said softly.

he did as i said and breathed with me, i moved my hands from his hair to his neck and rubbed gently. he looked at me, all i could see was fear and hurt in his brown eyes.

when his breathing got under control he laid his forehead on my chest, i feel his warm tears on my skin.

“how did you know” he asks his voice thick.

“my powers, i felt your panic attack and the memories that caused it” i answer and he sniffles “i’m so sorry tony” i whisper in attempts to hold my tears back as his painful memories cloud my mind again.

“i’ve messed up so many times and each time i lose someone in this case i lost half of the universe” he says through his tears “i lost the kid” he sobs out “i wasn’t supposed to lose the kid” he mumbles.

i’ve been staying with tony ever since the snap or ‘blip’, he needed someone and i just happened to be that someone.

tony and i left the compound and found a cabin in the middle of the woods. the cabin was absolutely gorgeous, it was very open with beautiful views.

in the last year that i’ve lived here tony has never had a panic attack, sometimes i could feel his sadness and see his memories. nine times out of ten his memories were painful and left me in tears.

a lot of the times i could feel his guilt, the images of peter turning into dust was a constant replay until two months ago.

“tony look at me” i say softly, he looks up at me “you can not blame yourself for what happened to peter, you fought as hard as you could but there was another fight going on somewhere where you and no control” he nods at my words.

“you have fought so hard and you need to rest, i hate to say it but there is nothing we can do right now” i say softly and he nods “and dont hide from me, if you ever need to come to me i am here and i don’t plan on leaving anytime soon” i say and he smiles lightly.

“thank you y/n for everything” he says softly and i kiss his forehead lightly.

“anytime tony”

tony lays his head in my lap, i run my fingers through his soft hair scratching every so often. we sit and talk for what feels like hours until tony falls asleep, i move him lightly so that i can get out of bed but he groans.

“stay please” he mumbles sleepily.

and i do.

Happier Than Ever

pairing: vision x black!reader

summary: y/n lost the love of her life she refuses to let the team know how she’s really feeling, but when she finds something special she breaks.

word count: 749

warnings: angst, this is just pure pain i’m so sorry :(

(italics: flashbacks)

masterlist

5 years ago

he was here.

i was in the palace when i saw the big black portal, i immediately ran out of the palace and outside. i ran as fast as i could, my legs and lungs burned as i ran.

when i got there i saw thanos grab vision by his neck and rip the stone out of his head, throwing his grey lifeless body on the ground.

“vision” i scream through tears as i run over to him, i hold his lifeless body against mine. as i’m holding him i feel a big hand gently pull my hair back, i look up and scowl as i see thanos looking at me sympathetically.

“i understand what you are feeling little one” he admits and i give him a look of disgust because he is, i can feel the grief and sadness washing off of him. i don’t say anything, i just look away from him. i feel him let go of my hair and walk away from me, leaving me with a lifeless vision.

i looked down at vision and let out a heart wrenching sob. everything i knew about vision was gone, his beautiful red skin, his beautiful blue eyes, but most his love. i couldn’t feel it anymore, i couldn’t feel him anymore.

present

today marked the five year anniversary of the snap and vision's death.

everyone was inside the compound building the time machine to get everyone back while i was at vision and i’s favorite spot. whenever we wanted to come outside we would sit under a big oak tree and look at the sunset or stars.

the team never knew even after five years how hard i took it and i hoped they never would. i looked on the ground and picked up the envelope that had my name on it in visions handwriting. i opened it and unfolded the paper, it was a property deed for a house. i looked down and saw a big heart drawn in red with writing in it...

to grow old in v.

i immediately felt the tears fall down my face, a sob escaped my lips as i remember what he admitted 5 years ago before thanos came.

5 years ago in scotland

“vis you really want this” i ask and he nods “i want to grow old with you, i want to get married and have kids. i want a life with you darling” he admits and i smile.

“then let’s do it” i said and he smiles big, he picks me up and twirls me around making me giggle “i love you vis” i look down at him and he smiles,

“and i love you darling”

present

“has anyone checked up on y/n today” nat asks and no one answers “guys come on today is probably one of the worst days of the year for her and none of you remembered” she scolds.

they all think for a moment before it hits them “oh god” steve mumbles, regret flowing through his body.

“today, today’s the day?” tony asks and nat nods. tony also feels regret wash over him as he remembers hearing you sob in your room when he came from space.

“what’s today” scott asks confused “today is the day thanos snapped and killed vision, the love of her life” rhodey explains as scott frowns feeling empathy for the poor girl.

as they stand in silence they hear her heart wrenching sobs coming from outside, this was the worst they have ever seen her besides the day of.

5 years ago in wakanda

they all walk over to her and see her curly hair covering her face as she cries into visions body, they her mumbling the words i’m sorry over and over again like a prayer.

they all stand around her, nat moves to caress her rub her back encouraging her to let it all out. they sit there and let her cry until they need to go, thor carries her as she cried while steve grabbed visions lifeless body.

they had never seen her this bad, her eyes were puffy and red while her sobs were strained. nat and steve couldn’t help but shed a few tears watching their friends grieve over such a loss.

present

i wanted nothing more than to live the rest of my life with vision. i wanted to get married and start a family with him.

it’s all gone now.

but i know that if he wasn’t taken so soon we would have been happier than ever.

today we really got fed really REALLY well,, i mean we got:

anthony, elizabeth and kathryn showing up at the mtv movie awards

anthony winning for best hero

anthony and sebastian winning for best duo

anthony mentioning tom in his speech

elizabeth winning for best performance in a show

elizabeth and kathryn winning for best fight

kathryn winning for best villain

wandavision winning best show!

scarlett winning the generation award

a brand new loki scene

a brand new black widow scene

all within a DAY?!?!!?

firsts

pairing: bucky x daughter!reader , natasha x daughter!reader, bucky x natasha

request: @maximeevansblog The reader (me) is the adopted Child of bucky and natasha and the reader is nevous for her first mission and her parents tell her that everything is gonna be allright, and the mission is complete and the reader is also badly injurd, her mom and dad and Bruce takes care of her and a lott of fluff thanks.

warnings: mentions of violence, blood and injuries

a/n: i love this request

today was my first mission.

to say i was absolutely terrified would be an understatement, yes i was trained by the best assassins know to man but still things could go wrong.

i was in the quinjet with my mom and dad in the way to the hydra base that had a flash drive we needed.

the flash drive has everything we need to know about hydras plan to created new facilities and create more super soldiers, like my dad.

“what’s wrong doll” my dad asks brings me out of my thoughts.

“i’m just a little nervous that’s all” i assure and he nods.

“there no need to be nervous, we’ll be right here waiting for you and if you need us we’ll be there” my mom says patting my knee and i smile at her.

“we’re here” clint yells and i sigh before making sure every weapon is in its proper spot and that my ear piece is secure.

“you got this” dad cheers and i smile before walking out of the quinjet and towards the big building.

i quietly walk towards the front door and choke out the two guards in the front, i grab one of their cards and swipe it before going into the building.

“the drive we need is on the far end of the building it should be in room 197” dad says into my earpiece.

i run down the hallway just to be met my three guys, they all come charging at me, i grab my gun and shoot one of them in the leg and he falls.

one guy comes up to my side and cuts my arm and i hiss before grabbing his head and smashing it into the wall. the last guy comes up to me and throws a punch but misses and i right hook him and he’s out.

i heard a lot of footsteps coming from down the hall, i look over my shoulder and see five hydra soldiers coming for me. i sprint down the hallway and go into the room with the flash drive, i see a guard and shoot him before i walk over to the computer and take the drive out.

as i start the encryption for the security breach i hear my dad voice in my ear piece “forget the encryption you gotta get out of there now”.

i do as he says until i feel a sharp pain pierce through my shoulder and i fall to the ground. i look at my shoulder and see blood pooling out if it at an alarming rate.

i grit my teeth to control the scream i want to let out as i get up from off of the floor. i grab my glock 17 and walk down the hallway, i shoot every hydra agent in my way until my amo runs out.

as soon as i get to the door a soldier pistol whips me and i groan, he’s a lot bigger than me and has the obvious advantage.

i do my best to fight him off with a gunshot wound, the man continuously makes blows at my ribs and stomach.

“dad, mom” i call out “i could use some help here” i say as the guys sends another blow to my stomach.

i heart two gunshots and the soldier falls in the ground in front of me, i looks up and see my mom and dad running up to me.

dad picks me up and i let out a painful cry as he does, he carefully walks out of the building and onto the jet. he puts me on the stretcher and my vision starts to get blurry before everything goes black.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

i wake up and a harsh light is blinding my vision, when my vision adjusts i look around and see bruce and my parents sitting across from my bed.

“you’re up” dad yells and comes to kiss my forehead and i smile.

“did you guys get the drive” i ask and they both nod.

“we’re very proud of you” my mom says and i smile.

“how bad is it bruce” i ask and he sighs as he grabs his clipboard.

“you’re right collar bone is shattered, you have three broken ribs luckily none of them punctured a lung, and doctor cho was able to fix your stab wound while you were sleeping” he finished and i nod my head slowly taking it all in.

“how long will i be out for” i ask bruce and he puts his clipboard down.

“a couple months of healing and a lot of physical therapy” he says and i nod and slowly grin.

“what are you making that face” my dad asks and i giggle.

“you guys get to take care of me” i say and they all groan, i laugh until i feel a sharp pain in my ribs.

“you ok” they all ask at the same time and i smile

“i’m fine guys” i say and i watch relief flood all of their faces.

“this is going to be a long couple of months” mom says and i giggle.

“oh most definitely”

i hope this was good :)