MSNBC host Melissa Harris Perry has taken issue with what she sees as racist themes in “Star Wars,” particularly the character of Darth Vader.
“The part where he was totally a black guy, whose name was basically James Earl Jones,” Perry said on Monday. “While he was black, he was terrible and bad, awful and used to cut off white men’s hands, and didn’t actually claim his son. But as soon as he claims his son, goes over to the good, takes off his mask and he is white. Yes, I have many feelings about that.”
Perry is of course referring to the end of “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi,” in which Luke Skywalker removes Darth Vader’s black helmet to reveal a white man underneath.
Perry did not mention the fact that Caucasian actor Hayden Christensen played a younger version of the character who goes on a murderous rampage in “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith,” which shows him killing small children. She also failed to mention that both of his children (Luke and Leia) are white.
Also, did this remind anyone else of the beginning scene of Kevin Smith‘s “Chasing Amy?” Watch the scene from the comedy film below and decide for yourself.