this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2025
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This NPR article is a pretty interesting take on how the model minority myth gets used to drive a wedge between Black and Asian communities, covering up the real struggles both face. It got me thinking about this Hollywood trope I keep noticing but rarely see anyone talk about—or when they do, it kind of gets shut down. It’s how Black and Asian characters pretty much always end up paired romantically whenever Hollywood wants to show diversity. You see it across the board: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Invincible, Lovecraft Country, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and a bunch of others. It’s like Hollywood uses these relationships to tick a diversity box but without really challenging the usual racial dynamics or putting White stories at less of a center. What do y’all make of that?
It's known: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TokenMinorityCouple
I glanced briefly at the list of TV examples. As a Trekkie I must point out that in “The Gamesters of Triskelion” (the version that got filmed) we are told the Thrall assigned to Uhura is ordered to do whatever he wants and that Uhura must comply. All you see is an off-screen cut away with screaming in the background. This isn’t usually discussed among the fandom but that was clearly rape. Uhura was raped in that episode. Let that sink-in.
Ok so this is mega interesting and I haven't seen most of these but.... Mr and Mrs Smith? There's like 5 characters in that movie. None of which I can recall are black or Asian......
The 2024 Amazon series remake/reimagining.
I love Donald Glover but not even this can convince me that Mr. and Mrs. Smith needed a Remake in 2025.
Foreal
And that wasn’t the original co-star. Maya Erskine was a replacement for Jane when Phoebe Waller-Bridge left the production. Waller-Birdge was originally cast Jane. So the characters would have been a biracial couple.
Interesting. I didn't watch it, but seemed another let's check the diversity check box by replacing another straight white couple with an Asian-black biracial couple. I didn't know the original casting for the show.
Glover was always attached to this. They did not change that.
They are a biracial couple, just none of them is white.
That said, Phoebe Waller-Bridge would have made a totally different show.