Does it matter that little Tony is black?

[Mumanyi]

I believe that colour really doesn't matter to the children, the author was trying to put across the message that morals and responsibility makes one a superhero

[BeatrixPotter]

I don't think it matters.

All young children benefit from positive, inspiring role models, whatever their ethnicity.

That being said, there is a need for more books about and by African American authors.

[Misael Carlos]

I believe the color of skin should never be factor in any decision or whatsoever in anything. It should be on the character and values a person has.

[naive_neith]

It matters..... representation matters

[Doug Jones]

The fact that Toni is black didn't even register on my radar until this thread. So I obviously felt none of the above.
And I don't think it will for kids either. They just see another kid, it's us adults that notice the colour :)

Fully agreed. It'll be nice when we live in a society such as the one Martin Luther King Jr. envisaged, one where a person is judged not by the color of their skin but the content of their character.

[Jennifer Kloss]

Definitely. Have you everthink why all the famous heros are white? Batman, superman, spiderman. People are racist and they judge everyone without knowing.

[Geneo92]

Why does everything have to do with race? This is the real question.

[Wa_hu]

It is significant, and I also like that he has a diverse group of friends. It was a subtle but effective means to spread the message of inclusivity.

[thebookaholic1]

Perhaps.

We're already shattering the white-hero stereotype.

Your question reminded me of the poem, The Little Black Boy by William Blake.

And I am black, but O! my soul is white;
White as an angel is the English child.

[husni5]

it doesn't matter that the little Tony is black because what counts in the end is the intellectual capacity.

[Ianica]

Toni being a black kid was just to cut across all races and yet have the main idea laid out-superheros always do the ordinary chores to help.

[teevic_o]

I don't think that it should matter that Tony is black. When reading the book, it's hardly a big deal. What's noticeable though is just the tidbits with the cultural differences. The lessons and the story itself matter more don't you think? It's also a good change that black children can also be heroes too.

[Doug Jones]

The fact that Toni is black didn't even register on my radar until this thread. So I obviously felt none of the above.
And I don't think it will for kids either. They just see another kid, it's us adults that notice the colour :)

I guess my cultural conditioning and scholar training are to be blamed for my observations. :) It could be interesting to show the book to a number of children and see what happens. We learn about racial distinctions in time, so it's a good idea to have a black superhero to make sure we get rid of any prejudice and misconceptions.

There are a number of black superheroes. Falcon, Black Panther, Spawn, Green Lantern, Storm, Cyborg, to name but a few.

[Samisah]

Our world is gradually changing. Even in conventional movies, black super heroes are no longer strange to see.
So Toni being black is really not a big deal

[Book Lover 35]

No. All kids can be superheroes regardless of race.