With writing sometimes people get wrapped up in the person's ethnic background losing track of who the character is as an individual. Some Writers sway away from writing characters of color because they don't know how write their "Struggles" or write a characture and/Or trope of a specific race.

Some writers go into stories wanting to leave a powerful message, leaving some POC's exhausted by the archetype. I've found that most people want to see more fantasy, adventure, and romance that isn't instantaneously urban or "Exotic" for not having a white main character. 

This is not to say people don't want to see it at all because as quoted by user BitchIsMyReligion

"You'd be surprised how many people believe racism no longer exists. They blame the bad state of lower-income neighborhoods on Hispanics/Blacks living within them, saying they're the ones not getting educated and choosing a life of crime over an upstanding one.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Black and Hispanic children have many more barriers to face than their caucasian counterparts. Did you know that a white man with a criminal record is more likely to qualify for a job than a black man with a clean history?"

These subjects in themselves should be spoken about and thoroughly researched but it shouldn't be all-encompassing to the character. The following are some things Wattpad users are sick of seeing in writing. 

I'm sick of seeing the same muses used for black people. There are so many beautiful black people to pull from but for some reason, everyone finds the exact same 3 people.

- WattPad user Melanated Melon

This book was created for users who want to see more diversity within our diversity. At times people don't have the exposure to other cultures so don't know who else to use. At other times we just LOVE the face claims we use. I know I did when I first started out, but it gets a bit played out people like to see the character, not the girl who played this character in that movie.

One of the biggest things that upset me is when characters are made to "sound their race." I think it's really disrespectful to try and give your poc characters an accent based off the stereotypes of how media portrays them.

-Wattpad User AmabiliaPuella

It should be a given but we must be aware there are some places where the only interaction people have with POC characters is on TV. I once read in the comments of a Wattpad story a reader who was not a person of color felt two things were unrealistic about other users' works. 

1. There were too many POC when questioned this person came from a small town with little exposure

2. They didn't speak (insert race) or talked white which is what people tend to confuse with articulation. Your character doesn't have to have an accent or speak slang to be authentic. We are all different. 

There were a few books I read that had Latino side characters and what annoyed me the most was when every Latina said "mija" or "chica" at the end of every single sentence while speaking to her friend. We don't do that shit. And we're not all sassy, I'm literally the shyest Dominican you'll ever meet. I'm also tired of people describing us as exotic. And also, people need to stop using us as their criminals. We are not some tool you can use as your criminals. I read some books by an author who self-published, and literally all her criminals were Latino. I stumbled on a comment that asked her why all her criminals were Latino and she responded back saying something like, "Oh, I just can't think of anyone else to use."

-Wattpad User shutupsinderella

This connects to dialect and tropes. The fact of the matter it is unnatural to speak this way some people may but not all and it's overused. As far as crime goes, like me, most users are not fans of the "Urban" tropes of crime and drugs and are sick of seeing it. My weed guy happens to be German thank you. 

I don't like being called African American because for one, with all of the immigration happening, there are groups of people who actually fit that title. I'm not Haitian or African(dis-including historical heritage), so I don't fit that bill. Just black.

-WattPad User Biliai

Sometimes writers will shy away from calling a character black for their own reason, finding terms like African American to be more politically correct. This is fine but not a fact for all black people, especially those of us who have never been to America. If you don't want to triangulate your POC character to a specific ethnicity black is just fine. 

Adoptive culture... I usually don't address it much. 

Sometimes a POC will be adopted into a white family and people tend to love this story but if it's not your personal experience its an overused trope. 

The following quote has been edited down and adding in information such as the definition to Koreaboo - A non–South Korean person who is obsessed with South Korean culture, especially K-pop, and may behave in a stereotypically South Korean manner.

They keep arguing over and over again, it's appreciation, it's appreciation. No, it's a crush. It's not love. Love is the ability to see the good and bad of a country without having a mini-meltdown over it. This does NOT mean I don't deeply love Korea as a Korean. I can talk about MORE than (Korean pop culture) I can say, I love the women of Korea because of the deep history of fighting misogyny and civil rights fights that lasted longer with Korean women than most of the other East Asian sphere, but Koreaboo's tend to checkout as soon as the conversation gets deep and serious. That is not appreciation or love. 

-Wattpad User KimYoonmi

The 'sassy' black girl. Black woman with an 'attitude'. Even 'feisty' is doing too much. These things wouldn't be said about any non-poc.

This particular comment was debated but added simply because it's something we are split on. I am a sassy woman, but the fact remains it's not something that is the first thing that people say about me. I personally LOVE to see this in writing but please be sure to not make it The core personality. 

There's hundreds of different types of Indians and I don't see a huge ton of Indians in Wattpad stories. I'd say if you're doing an Indian character, DO YOUR RESEARCH. You'll want to pinpoint where in India they're from. The North is so different from the South, so make sure you know your person. I'm from the South, so if you're doing a south Indian character, ask me. And if it's a Tamilian character, that's even better.

-WattPad User  SVTSWrites

Though there are thousands of people in India it's rare to see a character let alone the main character of Indian descent that breaks the tropes. 

Avoid overstating it (race and color) unless the character naturally brings it up. Sometimes people focusing too much on the things that are different from white people is just enough to make me quit reading the book. I'm looking at you George RR Martin.

I left this user anonymous because I don't want the message to get lost. When writing POC we sometimes forget that saying things like "His Olive skin glistened in the sun" every few chapters is weird. Don't do that. 

Latinx characters who are either 

A) the sassy/oversexualized woman who yells in Spanish.

B) the comedic relief guy.

or C) an illegal immigrant or criminal with no other redeeming attributes. 

I don't mind when writers reflect on stereotypes and the true nature of living as a Mexican American or Latino (e.g. blue-collar jobs, minimum wage, maybe struggle with the language barrier, discrimination, etc) – in fact, I actually really like to see that realism – but like most POC, I want these characters to be fleshed out. To be more than their race.

-Wattpad User gtgrandom

A running theme for readers of color is we want diversity but not just the trope but the characters whose whole story doesn't struggle. When asked how to write a person of color I always answer "Write the character you want, now make them a person of color" Humans are beyond their skin and whereas it can, not all of our experiences are defined by that skin. 

We need real representation of addiction and mental health that's not romanticized, overdramatized, or poorly researched.

I understand that it's hard to write out things we don't know, which is why I would love for more writers to draw in such experiences and share it with us. I don't want anyone to traumatize themselves again for the sake of diversity; For some reason in our cultures it always "pray it away" instead of actually seeking help, so we don't like to talk about it.

It's not like white people are the only ones with these issues and are allowed to talk freely about them. Why can't we have books that actually reflect what it's like to have a disability or mental health issues as a POC.

The previous statements are two users' thoughts melded into one. It's important to remember mental health and addiction goes far beyond race. This also goes for LBGTQAI stories with color.  Write that story you might save a life.

I hate it when they only describe people of color as light-skinned in the media – books, news, movies, and social media outlets like Instagram. Some of us are darker, and we deserve representation just as well. I grew up hating my color and ethnicity as a Mexican kid, and I think we can do our communities a favor by becoming more inclusive as writers. Whether or not our platforms reach a wide and varied audience, we still have a voice, and it's up to us begin positive change.

-Wattpad User BitchIsMyReligion

I am guilty of making all my female main character light complected women of color. I am a light-skinned WOC who is multiracial and like to write myself in my work. I balance out this lack of representation with adding in strong non-side-kick base darker-toned character but all in all recommend we all try to bring diversity and make Heros who are dak skin. 

Little fun fact: black people literally have the DNA to present any genetic features. This includes blonde hair, blue eyes, red hair, green eyes, straight hair, etc. 

This comment also comes from Biliai I included this statement because as a woman of color with naturally red hair and amber eyes I felt this is very important. Black doesn't always mean brown, mix up your character's features have fun with it. 

A friend of mine compiled a list of No's which I chose to add in succession. The list goes as follows.

Food descriptors used to describe a Black person's skin when the author themselves is not Black

This was explained slightly in the previous chapters but just to rehash. It's because the fetishizing of human beings. I may be a snack but I also got a name. 

Homopobic Black families

Yes, there are Black families that are homophobic, much like any family you come across once in a blue moon. But there are also families that love and respect their queer/LGBTQ+ children or relatives. They deserve to have some spotlight in media and as prosejoyce explained: 

I also think that this trope should be left to Black folx that experience this; it's their story to tell.

Not a lot of queer/LGBTQ+ Black folx

I am genderqueer. I am also pansexual. I want to see (POC) that are super queer and fully embraces it, regardless of the story's genre. I'm tired of seeing that demographic hushed. There needs to be more of us shown; and not as side characters, but in main leads, having a wonderful relationship with someone that respects them.

As a fellow pansexual the lack of representation can be disheartening. POC can be gay and it can be okay. 

Absent Father trope

I don't hate this trope. Personally, I think that it's one that can be done with a lot of nuance, but it's a trope that never gets that nuance. My own father was absent in my life, but he was absent because he was active duty. There are kids who have parents in the military and don't get to see them, too. It's not always because they're a deadbeat or a bum that should probably go fuck-off to the next galaxy, although those men do exist.

Sassy/Angry/Independent Black woman

This is another trope that I don't hate. It's just never done with nuance. When people show that we're "strong", they don't always show that we're capable of emotions; just that we're this badass queen that could do anything the world offers. And while most of us can, our batteries can run out too - just like any other person, y'know.

Like we're not always sassy. We're not always independent. And you know what, it is wonderful to have these types of attributes, even if society uses it against us and forces us to become the "Docile Black woman" — aka my very hated trope that I am currently battling against internally when I cannot force myself to be confrontational when I need to be. But it becomes a double-edged sword when that's the only thing we're known for. I'd be more comfortable if the character was well-rounded and humanized.

I touched on this a few paragraphs up but I obviously fully agree with the sentiment. I for one am sassy and will call people on their crap but it's not all me and docile is not all them. 

AAVE

I grew up with this. It's something I often switch to when I'm home, but the thing is? Not every Black person speaks it; some do "proper" English. Not every Black person that uses AAVE is uneducated or poor. Not all of us use "lit" or "finna" all the time - and especially, in fron of other people or in a professional setting, because that's not how our society works.

I should also note that you should pay attention to where your Black character is from, especially if it's somewhere in the US. Dialects are different for each region. We don't speak the same, so don't make us.

previously discussed. 

Jezebel

Black women and non-binary femmes can be sexy without being oversexualized or becoming a fetish. We are not your vixens or your seductresses; and even if your character is that, she deserves to retain her agency. When it comes to this trope, "agency" is non-existent. But don't take it from your average sixteen-year-old weeb; this ought to be common knowledge.

This one I added because it's a popular opinion. Reading my stories my WOC are oversexed because I sir am oversexed and proud. But I can see where it can get exhausting. 

Stereotypical "Black" hobbies

I used to be seen as weird for not liking most stereotypical "Black" stuff, like hip-hop and etc. I was that nine-year old that was really into punk rock, anime and very long books. There are a lot of Black people who're like this. They can probably sing every song on Pretty. Odd. without a falter.

We are weebs. We are the goths. We are the nerds. We are the jocks. We are not just "gangbangers" and "thugs" — and even this trope needs its own section, because the romanticism of something that stems from institutionalized racism needs to be addressed. I do not have the spoons to address it. TL;DR: be creative when it comes to thinking about our interests.

Again. Above explained. 

"I hate my 4C hair"

Shit, I hate my 4C hair, too. It is sometimes too kinky - which is not something you ought to be repeating - and too thick. My arms ache whenever I fight with it, so that it can be untangled. But I see less of Black women wearing their natural hair and more of them wearing everything in—and you know, that's a personal choice. Dealing with that hair texture takes a lot of time and a lot of effort; and sometimes, we don't have the time to spend three to four hours on it.

I hope this helped. This page will be updated frequently maybe even added to. Is there something I missed? Is there something that should be here? let me know in the comments.