I have two plot-relevant chars in current WIP. Not MCs, not protags/antags, just supporting cast, but both are very powerful, and (depending on your point of view) slightly mystical.
The first is a black woman--she dies early on. (That in itself is maybe a problem?) The second is a part-Sioux woman--doesn't die, features a reasonable amount. Modern, educated, not "ancient", no stupid bad English or anything like that.
I'm trying to avoid the Mystical Native trope because I hate it. But I'm also reluctant to convert the two most powerful people in the setting into Caucasians just to avoid it, because that feels problematic too. Am I massively overthinking this? Or does it sound off kilter?
For context, if it helps, almost everyone in the cast--including MC--is mixed or BME (or nonhuman...) so these two chars in question don't particularly stand out in that regard.
The first is a black woman--she dies early on. (That in itself is maybe a problem?) The second is a part-Sioux woman--doesn't die, features a reasonable amount. Modern, educated, not "ancient", no stupid bad English or anything like that.
I'm trying to avoid the Mystical Native trope because I hate it. But I'm also reluctant to convert the two most powerful people in the setting into Caucasians just to avoid it, because that feels problematic too. Am I massively overthinking this? Or does it sound off kilter?
For context, if it helps, almost everyone in the cast--including MC--is mixed or BME (or nonhuman...) so these two chars in question don't particularly stand out in that regard.
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