I don't mean to be insensitive but I don't get what's wrong. Could you please explain?
It's hella tone deaf, stuffed with racist tropes, and shows very little research into a very sensitive historical period in favor of writing gay sex. You can see the gross dynamics it has like slave master × slave and white savior. As a example, it would be like writing a smut story centered on a Nazi and a Jewish person, or a comfort woman and an Imperial Japanese soldier. Historical context and the cruelty that happened during those periods make those relationships HEAVILY problematic to romanticize.
To put it very very simply, the problem was the slave topic this chapter had. The slaves we’re depicted as people of color (only) while their oh so great saviour is a white dude freeing them of their demise - knowing the historical context of this, especially the history of the black community being endlaved and oppressed is just extremely tasteless. Thinking about the Dern’s wealth probably being build on slavery is also just ironic + white MC being of perfect blue blood (which America never had)
The slaves didnt have any personality, no face, no names. They were like “omg thank you young master” when MC BOUGHT them free, with money that wasn’t even rightfully earned as I said before - and freedom ISN’T something that they shouldn’t be given to. It’s not noble, MC isn’t a saviour. But he’s being depicted as one (Hence white saviour complex) even though he and his family are kinda part of the problem.
Also Ezra’s design is just kinda weird to me imo. The blue eyes to “make sure he’s not TOO foreign” is kinda funny to me haha but they HAD to make sure that he still looks “oh so exotic” with his tan skin, pearls in the long hair etc etc.
Hope it’s understandable, English isn’t my first language plus I’m not the best historian lmao
The way he's much more lighter than the faceless characters too...
Yes! It’s like they wanted to create a character who seems “exotic”/“savage” but still wanted for him to fulfill the Asian/european beauty standards l haha it’s insane
genuinely asking, if the story takes place in fantasy world and all the characters have the same skin tone, does it also count as insensitive? I think I’ve crossed many historical reincarnation manhwas with that trope, where for example the fl bought the ml from auction. will master x slave trope always be a sensitive topic or is it depends on the situation itself?
sorry I mean to say fiction world
Any master/slave romance is kind of icky to me personally, but that's just my opinion... THE main issue here is the historical context. A fantasy story with fictional slavery and a story that's clearly drawing from real world slavery, colonialism, and racial oppression aren't going to be received the same way. Once you start borrowing from real history, especially something as horrific as slavery, people are naturally going to be more critical of how it's portrayed.
Wow I’m surprised this even got approved - but that’s the issue in Korea (and most south asian countries as well, coming from a chinese) because HOW did no one notice how deeply insensitive and inappropriate this was? Haha honestly I’m glad that there are consequences BUT i can’t help but feel SO bad for JAXX. Them getting criticised is good, but the hate is unjustified.
Still, imagining cancelling my own story aber that much hype, content, teasers etc. must be devastating. But I’m glad that they listened to overseas readers as well.