Darren Chetty suggests that diverse casting in Jack Thorne’s adaptation of Lord of the Flies has failed to respect the themes of racial identity present in William Golding’s original narrative (The BBC’s Lord of the Flies shows why diverse casting doesn’t always work, 19 February). He appears to take this position in order to highlight the lack of direct racism faced by non-white characters in the new TV series. I feel that this is to take a narrow view of how racism operates.
Racism isn’t just playground name-calling. More often than not, it covets the power and agency of black people, seeking either to own or destroy it. Although treated with subtlety, race plays a key role in shaping the identities of the characters Ralph and Jack. One character’s sense of righteousness can be traced to his black, ailing mother, while the other is portrayed as a victim of absentee parents.
