# HARRY POTTER question: Are there any black students mentioned at Hogwarts? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 12, 2013, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537 "2013-04-12T19:33:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/21 "2013-04-12T20:30:58Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > As I said, it is not an undertone, it is clearly a deliberate allegory of racism. I do not recall Voldemort (or anybody) caring a whit about anyone’s actual race however (although I also do not recall any non-white Death Eaters). Gonna make a fool of myself here. I know Helena Bonham Carter (who played boss-level death eater Bellatrix Lestrange) has all kinds of English nobility in her ancestry, but does she not also have some melanin in her family tree? Now that I say that, I have no idea where I got that idea. Googling doesn’t turn up anything like that. Am I crazy? ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/22 "2013-04-12T20:32:34Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > The whole mudblood thing the Potter books has racist undertones. Does Voldemort or … um–okay, I don’t remember the name of the character I’m trying to think of–ever express any bigotry toward non-white wizards? It would seem out of place from what I recall of the first book, but I’ve been wrong before. To elaborate on **AClockworkMelon** ’s reply a bit, the bigotry shown in the book is entirely along magic/nonmagic and human/nonhuman lines, as far as I can recall. No one, good or bad, particularly seems to care about human skin color–which actually makes a measure of sense, given that the differences they do discriminate on are more dramatic. Bigotry over skin color could plausibly get lost in the noise, I think. Not to mention that it would generally be safer to discriminate against a guy whose skin tone matches yours, but who can’t curse you to death, than a differently pigmented person who can. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/23 "2013-04-12T20:35:24Z")
Anybody else think the black kid announcer in the first movie was a girl? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/24 "2013-04-12T20:36:44Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > And I’ve often wondered about the look on Philyra’s face during We have a smiley for that, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/25 "2013-04-12T20:38:36Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > We have a smiley for that, you know. Don’t make me unleash the badgers. Well, okay, it’s just one badger. But it’s a HONEY badger. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/26 "2013-04-12T20:39:14Z")
Are there any black or Indian or otherwise ethnic characters in main roles? There’s Cho Chang, who is I believe Scottish and ethnically Chinese. Anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/27 "2013-04-12T20:46:28Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Are there any black or Indian or otherwise ethnic characters in main roles? There’s Cho Chang, who is I believe Scottish and ethnically Chinese. Anyone else? I have already mentioned Padma and Parvati Patil. Lots of other “ethnic” characters have been mentioned in the thread if you actually read it. It is true, however, that all the main protagonists are white. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/28 "2013-04-12T20:52:41Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Are there any black or Indian or otherwise ethnic characters in main roles? There’s Cho Chang, who is I believe Scottish and ethnically Chinese. Anyone else? Kingsley isn’t really a “main character” but he’s not exactly an extra. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/29 "2013-04-12T20:53:25Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > I have already mentioned Padma and Parvati Patil. Lots of other “ethnic” characters have been mentioned in the thread if you actually read it. It is true, however, that all the main protagonists are white. I read it and I have read the books (but it’s been a while) but none of the really important characters are anything but white. Padma and Parvati are side characters at best. Neville Luna the Trio Slughorn All the teachers The parents (obviously) The Ministers Almost all white…i think there is one black guy in the Order of the Phoenix that’s pretty important? I can’t remember his name but they cast that fairly good looking black guy in the movie. ETA: Kingsley! Yes that’s his name. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/30 "2013-04-12T20:53:39Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Are there any black or Indian or otherwise ethnic characters in main roles? There’s Cho Chang, who is I believe Scottish and ethnically Chinese. Anyone else? Hell if I know. But Mrs. R. & I will be reading the books to one another at bedtime starting next week. In any unrelated matter, I am making [this](http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Roasted-Garlic-Lemon-Broccoli/Detail.aspx), [this](http://allrecipes.com/recipe/sweet-potato-chicken-casserole/), and [this](http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Black-Magic-Cake/Detail.aspx) for dinner Saturday night, so turn on your teleport pad for the leftovers. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/31 "2013-04-12T21:06:49Z")
A case could be made for Nymphadora Tonks being whatever the hell color you want. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/32 "2013-04-12T21:45:44Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I read it and I have read the books (but it’s been a while) but none of the really important characters are anything but white. Indeed, like almost all books written by white authors from majority white countries. In fact, it seems fairly obvious to me that Rowling made a quite deliberate effort to include non-white minor characters to reflect the racial diversity of Britain, but nobody’s race plays any plot role whatsoever. > [@Anaamika](#): > > . . . > The Ministers > > Almost all white…i think there is one black guy in the Order of the Phoenix that’s pretty important? I can’t remember his name but they cast that fairly good looking black guy in the movie. > ETA: Kingsley! Yes that’s his name. As I also already pointed out, Kingsley actually becomes Minister of Magic at the end. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/33 "2013-04-12T21:47:34Z")
They go to [Clortho](http://vimeo.com/52748841) ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/34 "2013-04-12T21:49:39Z")
If we are trying to catch Ms Rowling out in some sort of implicit racism, I would say that by far the best case could be built upon the fact that the wizarding banking system is run entirely by goblins, with big noses even! ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/35 "2013-04-12T21:53:44Z")
There was a line added to the American edition (first book) that said Dead Thomas was black. It kind of messed up the scene, actually, because the British version says: > [@](#): > > And now there were only three people left to be sorted. ‘Turpin, Lisa,’ became a Ravenclaw and then it was Ron’s turn. The American version says: > [@](#): > > And now there were only three people left to be sorted. “Thomas, Dean,” a Black boy even taller than Ron, joined Harry at the Gryffindor table. “Turpin, Lisa,” became a Ravenclaw and then it was Ron’s turn. The American one added an extra person but didn’t change the count on the students. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/36 "2013-04-12T21:53:57Z")
IIRC Dean Thomas’ race is mentioned at his first appearance when Harry meets the other first-year Gryffindors, and then not again, so it’s easy to forget. I also seem to remember reading that that line wasn’t present in the original UK edition, but maybeim thinking of something else. Anyway, Ginny dates him for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/37 "2013-04-12T22:09:22Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > If we are trying to catch Ms Rowling out in some sort of implicit racism, I would say that by far the best case could be built upon the fact that the wizarding banking system is run entirely by goblins, with big noses even! I’m not trying to catch Rowling on racism. I was just wondering. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/38 "2013-04-12T22:10:37Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Yes, Angelina Johnson was who I was trying to remember. I remember the books saying she was black. > > I can’t swear to it, but I’d almost bet money Lee Jordan was described that way too. > > According to a google search, it’s canon that Angelina married into the Weasleys. I didn’t know she’d married a Weasley, but I remember that when George Weasley (one of the practical joker twins) needed a date for the upcoming dance, he immediately yelled, “Oi, Angelina!” So, interracial dating is no big deal in the Wizard world. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/39 "2013-04-12T23:08:26Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Gonna make a fool of myself here. I know Helena Bonham Carter (who played boss-level death eater Bellatrix Lestrange) has all kinds of English nobility in her ancestry, but does she not also have some melanin in her family tree? > > Now that I say that, I have no idea where I got that idea. Googling doesn’t turn up anything like that. Am I crazy? Well, Bellatrix’ maiden name was Black; she was a cousin of Sirius Black, in fact. Did you maybe make a subconscious connection with her character’s name? ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537/40 "2013-04-12T23:40:16Z")
I know you don’t care about the films, but the first two actresses that portrayed Lavender Brown were black but in the later films they changed it to a white girl. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-potter-question-are-there-any-black-students-mentioned-at-hogwarts/655537.md?page=3)