Complaints about racism in Star Wars are far from new, the greatest critique delivered by one Mr. Hooper X in Chasing Amy.
But what about within the universe itself? It’s easy to examine the black and white, so to speak, dynamics of Luke Skywalker versus Darth Vader as the linked clip demonstrates. What’s not so obvious are the racist attitudes of the characters themselves, some of which should know better.
We begin our examination a long, long time ago in …
Tatooine
The home planet of Anakin and Luke Skywalker is settled by literally s#&t-kicking dirtfarmers.
We know they’re settlers because a) the only town on the planet is a spaceport, and b) there’s another sentient species that is more suited to the environment, i.e. doesn’t farm deserts. And that’s all we know about the “sandpeople,” which is presumably an epithet casually strewn by Aryan Luke, Owen and …
Obi-Wan Kenobi
For someone belonging to a monastic order dedicated to protecting all of the member species of the Old Republic, Old Ben doesn’t hesitate to tell you all of his racist theories about sandpeople, who are apparently the only species that shoot somehow s@#ttier than stormtroopers.
That’s Obi-Wan’s first lesson for Luke. To Ben, Luke’s got a lot of potential, but his aunt and uncle kept him kind of ignorant … about bigotry, that is. Lesson two? Luke will never “find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy” than this place:
Sure, the place is a little rough. It’s a bar. It’s not like it’s an opium den or anything.
At least Obi-wan doesn’t spread stereotypes about Wookies, unlike …
Han Solo
Han Solo might just be the John Mayer of Star Wars. He thinks he gets a pass to say “Wookie” because his best friend gave him permission. Unfortunately, he’s also like Mayer because he uses that pass to also paint a horrible caricature of his friend to new company.
Chewie’s just trying to play a game against a frustrating computer opponent (who hasn’t broken a monitor playing Chessmaster?), and Han implies he’s losing because he’s a dumb beast that pulls people’s arms out of their sockets.
Perhaps Han is projecting his own perceived inadequacies on the local foreign other. After all, what the heck is a Gundar, and what would excuse pulling off their ears as a test of strength?
Of course, Han’s just echoing what society has taught him, and one need look further than the aristocracy to discover the source of galactic apartheid:
Princess Leia
Leia doesn’t even wait for Han to let her know it’s cool to say “Wookie” in front of Chewbacca before she calls him a “walking carpet.” And, after everyone gets a medal for the Battle of Yavin … wait. Somebody didn’t get a medal.
Wookies–which, if you actually ask one, call themselves Sounds-Like-A-Dead-Bear’s-Fart-Kashyyykians–are slaves of the Empire. Everyone makes a big deal out of Leia being a part of the Rebel Alliance (and a traitor), but she also served on the Imperial Senate. She was part of the governing body that put Wookies in their place.
And let’s not forget her stance on interspecies relationships:
And this is the most forward-thinking character the universe can present, other than …
Yoda
Who’s not racist at all.
But he is a pedophile.
LMAOOOOO, FUKN GOLD SNEEZY!
Well played, snee. Impressive, but you are not a Jedi, yet…
Gundars are gigantic, horrifying beasts with floppy ears.
My question is, ‘What’s a Nubian?’