Diversity In The Power Rangers 9/20/15

Throughout the series known as The Power Rangers, the ethnicity of the actors who play each colored Power Ranger has created much controversy as the series still continues till this day. Since many of us were young we did not really look at it in the perspective of race, from the first season of The Power Rangers, the colors with each characters were Austin St. John (Jason Lee Scott, Red Ranger) a Native American portrayed teen who is into martial arts, Walter Emmanuel Jones (Zack Taylor, Black Ranger) an African American teen portrayed to be funny, silly and know how to fight in scene where he is alone, David Yost (Billy Cranston, Blue Ranger) the White American teen who is smart, nerdy, and can fix anything, Thuy Trang (Trini Kwan, Yellow Ranger) a Vietnamese born teen who is portrayed as a smart, loyal, noble girl to the team, Jason David Frank (Tommy Oliver, Green/White Ranger) the Mexican-American teen who appear as an evil teen against the Power Rangers, who also is a great fighter , Amy Jo Johnson, (Kimberly Hart, Pink Ranger) the White American teen who is blonde, smart, pretty, and feminist strong type of fighter.

As the seasons progressed the diversity in each character at times went from better to worst. Of course they weren't going to make the mistake as the first season, even though many producers and directors working throughout the Power Rangers series did not think of it as a mistake. The colors were not truly based upon race, but on personalities to fill such as the leader, the jock, funny guy, the nerd, the sweetheart, and the smart girl. The most common races used in every season involved White, Native, Asian, every now and then they would add one African American or Hispanic to the group. Based upon the setting in every season it all differentiated based upon location and character portrayals, there were times where it would be one African American, White American, Asian American, or Mexican American, would either be goofy, serious, leader, or odd one out of the group. The role of the Red Ranger was meant for the leaders, strong, apprehensive, tall, where as the Blue Ranger was to be the smart sidekick, nerdy, but intellectually strong, yellow ranger, quite but a fighter, loyal and pretty, Pink Ranger, the beautiful girl of the group, smart yet pretty to surpass it and every now and then in need of hope. Finally, the Green/Black/White Rangers, all are basically extras who fit in with the Power Rangers, these are usually the evil yet comedic guy, also strong and second hand leader traits who are portrayed by teens in ways of serious, tough guy, mysterious ways. Even today as they are on the 22th season its amazing how the diversity has grown, the leader Red Ranger, is now a Mexican American smart, and tough while being apprehensive, a Filipino teen as the Blue Ranger who has a caveman back story, learning to communicate in the 21st century, a White American teen Green Ranger, is smart yet witty being the crazy one of the group, a Black Ranger, Mexican American who has the american jock feeling, staying relaxed and maintaining street smarts, and now the Pink Ranger, a African American teen who is smart, beautiful, and beginner of the Rangers. Many do not look past these traits because the Power Ranger all appear s heroes, we were told to not judge a book by its cover at a young age, and we looked up to these 5 heroes. As we mature we realize the how different each character is portrayed, all there is left is to make a woman a leader of The Power Rangers, even though the series is as huge as it once was, shows like these are what influence most of our children today, as they develop to live between right and wrong they play a major part of what we fight for, the good or evil in the world in school, work, family, and ourselves.