How Jessica Jones fails people of color

marvelsdefenders:

Unfortunately, without understanding what race can mean in or affect a character’s daily life, what you’re left with are scenes in which Jessica (Krysten Ritter), a cis white woman, complains to her Hispanic super about what it’s like to be discriminated against, or in which we hear the hiss of a black female detective saying “you people” to Jessica as she uncuffs her from a detention room in the police station, implying that super powered people are less-than. We get to hear Oscar yell out, “You’re not a protected class!” as Jessica calls him a bigot and berates him for attempting to evict her. 

The major characters of colour (all men, because there are no significant women of color in this season) are treated in season 2 is rough, to say the least.

Pryce, introduced in the first episode as someone who seemed to be Jessica’s private eye competition, ends up seeming incompetent and fairly unimportant (though there is potential for this to change in season 3). Oscar first exists purely to show how people are bigoted towards Jessica and then to provide a safe space for her. Oh, and to provide forged passports.

Malcolm is a plot pawn used to further the distance between Jess and Trish. They chew him up and spit him out and don’t look back. 

How Jessica Jones fails people of color