# Black characters and creators in sci-fi, fantasy and horror (1996-2006) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 10, 2006, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187 "2006-06-10T09:18:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187/141 "2006-06-22T15:26:29Z")
Further apologies if I missed mention of these black characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer: - Kendra the Vampire Slayer - Nikki Wood the Vampire Slayer - Principal Wood, Nikki’s son - the vampire Mr. Trick, who said, “Sunnydale’s not a haven for the brothas but you’ve got to salute that death rate” 😉 (or words to that effect). - a demon played by Ashanti who tortured Xander in a season 7 episode. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187/142 "2006-06-22T15:30:36Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > - the vampire Mr. Trick, who said, “Sunnydale’s not a haven for the brothas but you’ve got to salute that death rate” ;). Or that conversation between him and the mayor “Mister Trick, certain elements are not welcome here in Sunnydale.” “Oh yeah. I’ve been hearing that speech for years. How ‘my kind’ are ‘not right’. Decades of bein’ a vampire, decades more of being hated for the color of my skin.” “Oh heavens no! We in Sunnydale welcome people of all colors, creeds, and religions. But, I simply will not tolerate rogue vampires in my town. Wetnap?” ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187/143 "2006-06-22T16:19:51Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > I have here an interesting flyer which mentions Nayor’s 1996 as a _factual_ account of her struggle against government mindcontrol. A look at mindjustice (dot org left out to avoid a trackback), confirms that it was not intended as fiction. I need to read _1996._ I was concerned it has a whiff of anti-Semitism given that her troubles started after a Jewish neighbor complained – but I’d have to read it first beofre determining how relevant her neighbors Jewish heritage is. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187/144 "2006-06-22T16:37:13Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Further apologies if I missed mention of these black characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer: > > - Kendra the Vampire Slayer > - Nikki Wood the Vampire Slayer > - Principal Wood, Nikki’s son > - the vampire Mr. Trick, who said, “Sunnydale’s not a haven for the brothas but you’ve got to salute that death rate” 😉 (or words to that effect). > - a demon played by Ashanti who tortured Xander in a season 7 episode. Don’t forget Giles’ orgasm friend from Season 4. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187/145 "2006-06-22T16:56:19Z")
The lovely Marjean Holden played “Arina” in the second and third seasons of the Beastmaster TV series (1999-2002). ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187/146 "2006-06-22T18:42:44Z")
> [@gytalf2000](#): > > The lovely Marjean Holden played “Arina” in the second and third seasons of the Beastmaster TV series (1999-2002). Wasn’t Arina’s lover Orpheo also black? Grace Jones was also the antagonist for an episode. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187/147 "2006-06-22T18:46:35Z")
Auger of Earth-Final Conflict was black. His father was a standard lower middleclass stereotype. Auger’s fashion sense was modern dance club. He was one of the world’s greatest living hackers. He loved modern art. In one episode, a wealthy acquaintance gets Auger to do him a favor by giving him Duchamp’s falcons. In another, Auger bankrolls a new business by selling a Broque or Cezanne. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187/148 "2006-06-22T19:57:46Z")
I just realized that we’ve been neglecting computer games in this thread. For instance, in _Diablo II_, the paladin character is black, and the sorceress possibly is as well (she generally appears overexposed, due to light from some spell or another she’s casting, so it’s hard to tell). And I know I’ve seen black characters in other SF/fantasy computer games, though I’m not recalling any of them at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187/149 "2006-06-22T20:11:04Z")
For computer games, I’ve never played _Half Life_ or _Half Life 2_, but I’ve seen other people play them, and at least two of the supporting characters are black/mixed race. Looking on Wikipedia, I see that characters I’m thinking of are: [Dr. Eli Vance](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Eli_Vance) (a physicist and researcher), voiced by [Robert Guillaume](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Guillaume). and that character’s daughter, [Alyx Vance](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alyx_Vance). ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187/150 "2006-06-22T20:32:43Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Wasn’t Arina’s lover Orpheo also black? > > Grace Jones was also the antagonist for an episode. I don’t remember. Marjean Holden was the only reason I watched the show! ---
**Author:** ![Cemetery\_Savior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Cemetery\_Savior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cemetery_Savior)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187/151 "2006-06-22T21:33:51Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > Perhaps he thought Delany [wrote the play.](http://www.citypaper.net/articles/062101/cs.bq.delany.shtml) He’s writing a memoir with that title. That’s a shortened version of an old defiant saying in African-American culture… the full quote is, “I don’t have to do a goddamn thing except stay black and die!” I was amazed that the thread got that far without Delany. I happen to think Dahlgren is one of the single best SF books out there. And as far as I know, he wasn’t killed off after his first novel. 🙂 -Cem ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187/152 "2006-06-22T21:34:36Z")
**Denzel Washington** in _Fallen_ and the upcoming _Deja Vu_. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2006, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187/153 "2006-06-22T21:42:35Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I just realized that we’ve been neglecting computer games in this thread. For instance, in _Diablo II_, the paladin character is black, and the sorceress possibly is as well (she generally appears overexposed, due to light from some spell or another she’s casting, so it’s hard to tell). And I know I’ve seen black characters in other SF/fantasy computer games, though I’m not recalling any of them at the moment. Well, in **KoTOR** and its sequel, your player character can be as black - or as white, Asian, or Hispanic - as you like. When you create your custom character, you get to choose his or her appearance: there are four or five black models {of each sex} to choose from, ditto for other ethnicities. There are too many black NPC’s to count, and of course your party has Jolee Bindo, the Abe Simpson of the Jedi. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2006, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187/154 "2006-06-25T12:27:34Z")
The late hip-hop singer Aaliyah played Akasha, the _Queen of the Damned_ in the movie adaptation of the Anne Rice novel. I don’t think enough attention has been given to Stephen King’s recurring use of Magic Negroes, possibly because at least two of them go back to the 1970s and 1980s. But not infrequent frequent charater type appearing in King’s novels and late, movie adaptations include Dick Hallorann in _The Shining_ (played by Scatman Crothers and later Melvin Van Peebles) Mother Abigail Freemantle in _The Stand_ (played by Ruby Dee, and also co-starring her husband Ossie Davis) Mike Hanlon in _It_ (played by Tim Reid and 12-year old Marlon Taylor) John Coffey in _The Green Mile_ (played by Michael Clarke Duncan) NOTE: While Morgan Freeman’s character Ellis Boyd ‘Red’ Redding in _The Shawshank Redemption_ is a quasi-Magical Negro, his character in the original King novellette was Irish, not black, as he appears in the movie. [Imdb.com](http://Imdb.com) reveals that King’s cast for _The Running Man_ included sci-fi and horror staples **Yaphet Kotto** as William Laughlin and **Jim Brown** as Fireball. Jim Brown memorably appeared in the sci-fi spoof, _Mars Attacks!_ with Pam Grier, Paul Winfield, and Ray J. I seem to recall another kid actor played the second son, but danged if I can figure out who that is from imdb’s credits page. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2006, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187/155 "2006-06-25T23:06:54Z")
I know the cut-off is 1996, but I’m going to back up a year to 1995 just so I can squeeze in Ice-T in both **Johnny Mnemonic** and **Tank Girl**. Heh-heh. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187/156 "2006-06-25T23:42:54Z")
> [@Case Sensitive](#): > > I know the cut-off is 1996, but I’m going to back up a year to 1995 just so I can squeeze in Ice-T in both **Johnny Mnemonic** and **Tank Girl**. Heh-heh. You may have uncovered Ice-T as the Kevin Bacon of straight to video sci-fi, horror and fantasy movies. I have never seen his [imdb.com](http://imdb.com) listing before today and it’s impressive – the sheer amount of schlock the man is willing to act in is amazing…! MAN. It’s like his only decent role since “Ricochet” is his recurring one on Law & Order. Anyway, I’m not going to list them all – [there’s easily a dozen](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001384/) – but he’s been in quite a few low-budget horror and sci-fi movies in the last ten years, including the porno classic _John Waybe Bobbit’s Frankenpenis_, \*Urban Menace \* and the cult classic taut psychological supernatural thriller of deep twists and edge of your seat suspense, _Leprechaun in the Hood._ ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2006, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187/157 "2006-06-26T02:42:09Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > …and the cult classic taut psychological supernatural thriller of deep twists and edge of your seat suspense, _Leprechaun in the Hood._ Faith and begorrah, motherfucker. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-characters-and-creators-in-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-1996-2006/360187.md?page=7)