“I think we all agree that infusion has been an issue and a great challenge in media in general, and definitely in sci-fi,” opened Celia Peters, who moderated the Rise of Characters of Color in Sci-Fi Film and TV panel at Comic Con New York on Saturday. “But I think we can also agree that things are starting to change. We can now see these strong and memorable characters of color in shows and films that we love, and that is huge. And the representation of sci-fi, in particular, has increased.

Citing the time when Nichelle Nichols on Star Trek was one of the few American American actresses to be featured in a television series in the 1960s, Peters remembered who it was that asked her not to leave the series. “Recognizing the value of an actress of color outside of a stereotypical domestic role, Martin Luther King, Jr. personally asked Nichelle Nichols to stay with Star Trek. Thankfully she did and it was a huge step forward. But it also took all these decades to be where we are today.”

Coming of a TV season where a record 27 acting nominations were singled out by the Emmy voters to individuals with diverse backgrounds, the overall level of representation has widened.

Network mainstays like Fox drama Empire and ABC sitcoms black-ish and Fresh Off the Boat, as well as more recent entries like Fox’s Star, CBS’ Superior Donuts and the plethora of series on cable and the digital streamers, makes the content seem more inclusive than ever before. ABC drama Quantico, starring Indian actress Priyanka Chopra, returns in midseason. And then there is an entry like upcoming CW drama Black Lighting in midseason, featuring one of the first black superheroes to appear in DC Comics.The options are growing.

“I remember being the only person of color in the cast,” said actor Ricky Worthy, who has appeared in a variety of science fiction and fantasy shows, including three Star Trek series. “And I remember losing a role because it would have featured an interracial romance, which at the time was just too much of a big deal. But now we see a diversity of women and people of color, both in front of and behind the camera; and we see diversity in the key decision makers, people of a certain background who have the appropriate voice to represent a particular group.”

“I think one habit folks get into is they work with people they know,” added Gabby Rivera, who pens comic book America, which focuses on Marvel Comics’ first gay Latina female superhero. “They fear stepping out of their comfort zone. As an editor, I make sure to do the research to go find the authentic voices and bring them to the table. And now what I want to start seeing is more clear ground punk rebel stories representing society as it is today.”

“It is not just what you see; it is also who is making the creative decisions and making it happen,” added Worthy. “And the biggest step, I think, is when a role is cast to the most qualified individual, regardless of what their ethnicity is.”

Representation matters; it shows our collective vision and we all want to see ourselves reflected on the screen, which was the theme behind this discussion of diversity.

“While there is still more progress to be made, what we see in film and TV at present is a more adequate sample of society today,” noted Peters. “We have come a look way.”

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