Is my ponysona racially insensitive?

[Steel Accord 6,660]

So that zebra in the avatar box is supposed to be my ponysona. Me as if I was born to Equestria rather than Earth, as I interpret a ponysona to be. The thing is though, Zecora, the only representative of who zebra are in Equestria draws much of her character traits from African shaman culture and her voice actress, Brenda Crichlow is African American (or maybe she's Canadian? Info about her surprisingly scarce.) Whereas my heritage is German and Irish.

 

I chose this mainly because, in real life, I would call myself very spiritual and aside from Tree Hugger who didn't exist when I first created Ezekiel, we've not seen much overt spirituality from the ponies of Equestria. Whereas Zecora shows much in the way of introspective understanding ("Magic Duel") and a commanding knowledge of the more ephemeral happenings in Equestria. ("The Cutie-Pox" "Secret of my Excess.") As well as meditating poses including one where she balances atop her staff while on her head, not too different from certain feats of physical discipline attributed to the Shaolin Buddhist monks. Which brings me to another connection in that I study Kung Fu.

 

So all in all, the Zebra, at least as seen through Zecora seemed a natural fit to me as far as species in Equestria goes. It only occurred to me that this might be wrong because it might seem like I'm trying to "pretend to be black." Which is not my intention in the least, I'm pretending to be a zebra.

 

However, I put it to you, my friends, given what I've said thus far, is my ponysona racially insensitive?

[Shimmer Down 668]

Shamanism like what Zecora represents is seen in a wide-variety of cultures, and has many different names.

 

It's a kids show and it's YOUR OC. Do whatever you want.

[Jeric 46,851]

I wouldn't say so off hand, no. Back story would be important ... but on the whole just choosing a zebra is fine.

[Aleh 481]

Not at all xD
Think you're looking a bit too far into this >.<

[Jeric 46,851]

Imma moving this to our OC Forum for further discussion

[Malinter 3,064]

Colour isn't a problem for ponies. You could make the blackest pony ever and make it act like the whitest man alive and it would just blend right into the collective seizure that is a busy pony town. XD 

 

If anything, The ponies initial mistreatment of Zecora is more "species-ism" than racism. They've also done it to sea-serpants and manticores by jumping to the worst assumption first XD

 

If you wanted to make a more spritual character in Equestria, a Zebra would be a good start.

Edited October 3, 2015 by Malinter

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Not at all xD

Think you're looking a bit too far into this >.<

 

It's better than hurting someone's feelings while being blissfully ignorant that you are doing it.

Colour isn't a problem for ponies. You could make the blackest pony ever and make it act like the whitest man alive and it would just blend right into the collective seizure that is a busy pony town. XD 

 

If anything, The ponies initial mistreatment of Zecora is more "species-ism" than racism. They've also done it to sea-serpants and manticores by jumping to the worst assumption first XD

 

If you wanted to make a more spritual character in Equestria, a Zebra would be a good start.

 

Yeah I get that in the context of Equestria, I was referring to how it looks like from the outside looking in.

Imma moving this to our OC Forum for further discussion

 

Sorry, I thought the previous place WAS the OC forum.

[Aleh 481]

It's better than hurting someone's feelings while being blissfully ignorant that you are doing it.

Its ridiculously unlikely. If somebody is offended by a zebra OC they're being silly. 

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Its ridiculously unlikely. If somebody is offended by a zebra OC they're being silly. 

 

True enough, this isn't something that bothers me regularly, it's just something I thought I would bring up.

[simba86 1,541]

i don't think anyone would care, aside from someone who is out looking for something to get offended over and who cares what they think anyway?

[Aleh 481]

True enough, this isn't something that bothers me regularly, it's just something I thought I would bring up.

Well there's no need to look out to avoid offending people who have no reason to be offended.

 

I'm sure they'll find some other way to get offended anyway

[Malinter 3,064]

I had considered making Mal a zebra originally since i wanted an OC with strong nature ties and no magic or anything... but I couldn't imagine him having the same patience as Zecora so he became a very tough earth pony instead. XD

[Durandal 623]

I can't see anything overtly insensitive about your OC, but some food for thought:

 

By making your OC a zebra to better portray your own spirituality, you're suggesting that zebras have a monopoly on it. Focusing too heavily on it also risks your OC becoming a stereotype. Think of it like making an African-American as a fictional character and focusing only on the fact they're a gangster. By ignoring the rest of their personality, you're dehumanizing them, and that has a host of implications behind it.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

I can't see anything overtly insensitive about your OC, but some food for thought:

 

By making your OC a zebra to better portray your own spirituality, you're suggesting that zebras have a monopoly on it. Focusing too heavily on it also risks your OC becoming a stereotype. Think of it like making an African-American as a fictional character and focusing only on the fact they're a gangster. By ignoring the rest of their personality, you're dehumanizing them, and that has a host of implications behind it.

 

Well do you think I am doing that by making that a major aspect of his characterization as it is my own in life? Not knowing anything else about the character or what he is like?

[Shadowdragon6060 39]

The answer is no, and anyone who says yes is stupid. Almost as stupid as the people who call my OC racially insensitive just for having black-scaled skin, being a Shadow Dragon and all.

[Durandal 623]

Well do you think I am doing that by making that a major aspect of his characterization as it is my own in life? Not knowing anything else about the character or what he is like?

 

So long as he isn't described solely by his spirituality, you should be fine. Just avoid making him a caricature.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

So long as he isn't described solely by his spirituality, you should be fine. Just avoid making him a caricature.

 

Well of course, otherwise I myself would be one and I'm obviously not. Just because I made a change that made sense according to what species doesn't mean that's the only trait he has, because it's not the only trait I have.

[Snake 516]

I do not think that it is at all. It's good to feel connected to your OC! If that means being a zebra then so be it. 

[Lucky Shot 232]

First off: I would adjust the name mildly to just Zekiel, so that it starts with a Z. The majority of non-actually-a-pony names in Equestria start with the race's first letter (except cows.)

 

But I digress.

 

The only problem I can think of is that, as a running gag, zebras are interpreted by the fandom as the blacks of Equestria... I don't believe any rational person will accuse you of pretending to be black or offending "black" peoples -- which is to say, Tumblr will most certainly do so and you should be ready for that -- but you're almost certainly going to be made fun of, even if it's meant in jest.

 

You might consider taking on a species that is better connected to Germany and/or Ireland, and simply keeping almost everything else about the character. One creature that I believe is plausibly relevant to both countries is the goat / ibex. This has the advantage of supporting your character living on a mountaintop, where Buddhist heaven temples are wont to be. If you want to maintain a connection to the zebras, you can simply include zebra characters alongside your goat within the Buddhist temple.

 

Of course, becoming a goatbex has two problems:

• You'll need to design the character more or less from scratch, or find someone to help you do so
• The name Ezekiel or Zekiel will be less fitting once you're not a Z-brah

So it's up to you. Personally, I'd be a goat.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,570]

Not a single aspect of your Ponysona is 'racially insensitive' to me. As you said, Zecora is the only Zebra we know of, for all we know Zebra's could come from all sorts of places in Equestria. So with that, your Ponysona can come from wherever you wish him to. It is awesome that you are expressing yourself with him and I say, keep on doing that! You are only doing positives. ^__^

[Chronamut 355]

you're overthinking this.

[The Coffee Pony 1,390]

Only if you are on tumblr!

[Steel Accord 6,660]

First off: I would adjust the name mildly to just Zekiel, so that it starts with a Z. The majority of non-actually-a-pony names in Equestria start with the race's first letter (except cows.)   But I digress.

 

Ezekiel still fits the naming scheme for having a z be prominent and having a hard "c" sound. "Zecora" and "Ezekiel" both are pronounced with similar sounds.

 

 

 

You might consider taking on a species that is better connected to Germany and/or Ireland, and simply keeping almost everything else about the character. One creature that I believe is plausibly relevant to both countries is the goat / ibex. This has the advantage of supporting your character living on a mountaintop, where Buddhist heaven temples are wont to be. If you want to maintain a connection to the zebras, you can simply include zebra characters alongside your goat within the Buddhist temple.   Of course, becoming a goatbex has two problems: You'll need to design the character more or less from scratch, or find someone to help you do so The name Ezekiel or Zekiel will be less fitting once you're not a Z-brah So it's up to you. Personally, I'd be a goat.

 

Given what everypony else said, I think I'm fairly safe. After all, I'm positive that not everyone who is a pegasus has Helenic ancestry in real life or every unicorn is reflected by a person descent from English or French aristocracy.

 

One's ponysona should reflect who they are on the inside, not their tangential genetics.

 

(Besides, we don't even have one prominent goat character aside from Iron Will's stage assistants for going off their culture.)

Edited November 6, 2015 by Steel Accord

[CookieK 74]

You don't need to be a zebra to be spiritually oriented, Tree Hugger or any of the hippie ponies in the comics are perfect examples of this. Zebras are from the equestria version of africa, you could be a Zony which is what I actually thought your OC was at first,because then you could still have the same look but your OC wouldn't have to be from the Equestria version of Africa. 

Edited November 6, 2015 by CookieK

[Lucky Shot 232]

Given what everypony else said, I think I'm fairly safe. After all, I'm positive that not everyone who is a pegasus has Helenic ancestry in real life or every unicorn is reflected by a person descent from English or French aristocracy.

 

One's ponysona should reflect who they are on the inside, not their tangential genetics.

 

(Besides, we don't even have one prominent goat character aside from Iron Will's stage assistants for going off their culture.)

 

You're overthinking my suggestion.

 

The pegasus and unicorn don't exist -- anywhere -- so it doesn't really make a difference where someone is from when using them. If you really had no concern with metaphor, then you didn't need to ask our advice on whether you could or should be a zebra in the first place, since the answer is "Go ahead! Be what you like!"

 

I never said anything about making goats Germanic or Celtic; not even yours. It's more like that old running gag where people who've been put on the spot look around the room and improvise alibis or wild stories based on things they see. Does the empty soda can actually have anything to do with your made-up story? No, and it's not really part of it, you simply happened to use it as inspiration; and that's the same reason I suggested a goat based on your being German and Irish. The goat doesn't need to actually be German or Irish, as the metaphor doesn't necessarily go both ways.

 

Spiting ancestry for the sake of itself is no better than ethnic stereotyping. It's up to you whether you want to be a zebra or anything else, but if you're selecting or avoiding a particular race solely for its ethnic implications, that's a poorly made choice.