The Bechdel Test challenges us to ask three simple questions about films:
I wonder if we could apply a similar set of race-related questions to stories in diverse settings, whether they come to us via books, television, or movies. Let's call it the "Friends" test, based on that outstandingly non-diverse television show set in New York City, and ask these questions:
- Are there two or more women with names?
- Do they talk to each other?
- Do they talk to each other about something other than a man?
I wonder if we could apply a similar set of race-related questions to stories in diverse settings, whether they come to us via books, television, or movies. Let's call it the "Friends" test, based on that outstandingly non-diverse television show set in New York City, and ask these questions:
- Are there two or more people of color with names?
- Do they have a significant conversation with each other?
- Do they talk about something other than race?