Otherwise, you continue to pollute the air waves. Take the show off the air, or redesign the character. Maybe if Omi didn’t look like the embodiment of a racist stereotype. Maybe if it took the time to further explore the nuances of culture in a more realistic and genuine manner, becoming something that is elucidating rather than simply distracting. Yet, any of these characters could be offensive in their portrayals. Its why a kid from the rural American south, a Brazilian soccer player, and a Japanese fashionista can all train as monks in China. Yet, they were all equal members on the team. Every character came from a different part of the world.

What’s so unfortunate about this is that the show could work as something to advocate the importance of team work in spite of difference. It is exemplified by amusement in something that should cause outrage seeing a person represented in such a ridiculously inhuman way and accepting it as the norm sets the foundation for a distorted world view. Here, it is exemplified by generations of people who grow up possessing a seriously deficient understanding of cultural and racial differences, one shaped by the media to which they are exposed. More often than not, it is about ignorance. Racism doesn’t have to be about about rage. And, its not the kind of racism that stems from hatred or anger toward a group of people (that is the unfortunate misconception that plagues American culture).

Xiaolin Showdown goes to show how racism is taught at a very young age. Yet, shame gives way to logical hindsight. The show is so offensive that I can’t believe that, as a young child, I watched it with glee.

Are Omi and Ping Pong cute and loveable? They’re shameless stereotypes, is what I’m saying, and the fact that the show’s creator (Christy Hui) is Chinese doesn’t change that. What the hell… Seriously? Instead of redesigning the character in a way that is consistent with other people on the show, they threw in a character who is even more racist in his portrayal. Ping Pong looks exactly like Omi, only he’s smaller and wears green glasses. The Canadian produced revival even went ahead to add a new character called… Ping Pong. Why doesn’t Omi have a nose? Why is he bright yellow? And, more importantly, how did a show like this last so long and even get a revival in 2013? Well, I’m sorry to break it to you, but Omi isn’t a nymph or a goblin or a fairy.

And, they’ve all teamed up with a kind of mythical yellow nymph?.

The guy on the far right looks like a cowboy.

Its a show with a diverse cast of characters. Xiaolin Showdown: Is It Racist? Yes, yes it is.

Xiaolin showdown characters