I like how considerate Thor is. I like the fact that Thor… he was thinking about Valkyrie, he was just like, “I’ll go off and not only get a weapon. I’ll go get some clothes for her as well, to inspire her. Give her a sense of place. Help her get her identity back. She’s been running from the truth and running from her past.” He’s just given her an opportunity to embrace it, to acknowledge who she is. She’s a Valkyrie.
So…I get not everyone is going to understand this, especially if someone is not a Black woman and doesn’t have our experiences, so I’m going to try to lay this out as nicely as possibly and try not to come off too harsh.
I’m going to start off with a quote from Alice Walker:
“Black women are called, in the folklore that so aptly indentifies one’s status in society, ‘the mule of the world,’ because we have been handed the burdens that everyone else–everyone else–refused to carry. We have also been called ‘Matriarchs,’ ‘Superwomen,’ and ‘Mean and Evil Bitches.’ Not to mention ‘Castraters’ and ‘Sapphire’s Mama.’“
You see, Black women are expected to be the “hero” of someone else’s story. We’re expected to be “the help.” The “mystical hero.” The “sassy friend.” We’re always there to help out the lead, but we’re never the love interest.
Chris Hemsworth has said himself that Thor is “smitten” by Valkyrie…when you disregard that and say she’s simply his hero and that it’s refreshing that he’s not admiring her in a romantic way, you are confusing your experience as a non-Black woman with ours.
Black women have historically been masculinized and fetishized. We’re either seen as too unattractive for love or too sexual to be romaticized. So, when we are put on a pedestal as a hero, it’s not at all refreshing. It’s the same ol’ same ol’. Now, being adored and loved? That’s something Black women never get to see for themselves.
It’s something that has slowly been changing, but the more it changes, the more push back is given in response. CW’s Iris West is knitpicked as a character for the silliest things while the fandom constantly ships Barry with Caitlin, a white character who has shown no interest in him or vice versa. Even the actress cannot escape the anger from fans who prefer the lead be paired with a white woman. She faces constant harassment on her social media on a regular basis.
So, while it might be revolutionary for white female leads and other non-Black female leads to be looked at like heroes rather than love interests, it’s not so much for Black women. So rarely are we given the message that we too can be worthy of love. Please tread carefully when you suggest that a Black woman being seen as a man’s hero rather than love interest is “refreshing.”
You know, I used to want to be a Valkyrie when I was younger, until I found out you were all women. There’s nothing wrong with women, of course, I like women. Sometimes a little too much. Not in a creepy way, just more like a respectful appreciation. I think it’s great, an elite force of women warriors.
“It’s like Thor’s meeting his hero. He’s absolutely smitten by her, and because of her history being Valkyrie and all that. But she’s also this beautiful woman, so he’s kind of caught off guard. She could have him if she wanted. I think he hasn’t come up against that very often.” – Chris Hemsworth
L.J.'s Obsessions 