Content warning 54/
The minute you decide that humans live with, e.g., silicon-based lifeforms, the biological basis for racism is reified - a basis that, again, geneticists and anthropologists have refuted through the scientific method.
Content warning 55/
Since we can't fit Roundworld's anthropological constructs to a world of fantasy, writers usually co-opt the word 'speciesism' as a fine distinction from what we would understand as racism, and to help bring us into the secondary world the story presents to us.
Content warning 56/
But when you get right down to it, to find out what it's really all about, that trolls and dwarfs sling slurs at each other is an example of racism.
We can say this much: politically and socially speaking, Ankh-Morpork has got its shit together.
Content warning 57/
Humans, trolls, dwarfs, vampires, werewolves, golems, zombies, Igors, the odd talking dog - all are welcomed to be bribed, robbed and murdered within its walls. Ankh-Morpork's got the room for commentary like this passage in Snuff (2011) (👇):
Content warning 58/
> ..."And so one at a time we all become human - human werewolves, human dwarfs, human trolls… the melting pot melts in one direction only, and so we make progress."
Heavy stuff: you're equals in Ankh-Morpork ON THE CONDITION that you act human.
Content warning 59/
So surely there's also plenty of room for bad, old-fashioned human-on-human racism.
Pratchett thought so, too. Jingo (1997) is a sharp rebuttal to, "Racism is not a problem on the Discworld."
Content warning 60/
Take the characterisation of 71-Hour Ahmed, bodyguard to the Klatchian Prince Khufarah. From Sam Vimes' perspective, Ahmed acts every bit the stereotype, compared to the honourable, educated Prince. The eye dialect and clunky Morporkian comes out in full force (👇):
Content warning 61/
> “If hyou changing your mind, offendi, I give hyou twenty-five camels, no problem,” he said, pulling a clove from his teeth. “May your hloins be full of fruit.”
Content warning 62/
> “I go, I hcome back,” he growled happily. “The Prince hsays the degree is Doctor of Sweet Fanny Adams. A hwizard wheeze, yes? Oh, how we are laughing.”
Content warning 63/
At the start, Ankh-Morpork and Klatch are in diplomatic dispute over what to do about the newly-emerged island of Leshp, smack-dab in the middle of their waters.
Content warning 64/
We read the hum-drum, everyday racism and xenophobia through the mouths of Sergeant Colon and Corporal Nobby Nobbs
> “And o’course, they’re not the same color as what we are,” said Colon. “Well…as me, anyway,” he added…
