—Kel McKnight, B1Daily

Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece is a global phenomenon, beloved for its intricate world-building, deep lore, and emotional storytelling. But there’s an uncomfortable pattern when it comes to how Black characters are portrayed: they’re often relegated to villainous roles, comedic relief, or sidekicks, rarely the central, serious protagonists.

The Sidekick & Villain Trope

From Usopp (whose exaggerated features and cowardly demeanor often toe the line of caricature) to the outright evil Blackbeard and the morally ambiguous Aokiji, Black-coded characters in One Piece tend to fall into extremes:

– Usopp: The cowardly liar with a heart of gold, but whose design and actions leans heavily into stereotypes.

– Blackbeard: A monstrous, gluttonous villain whose ambition is framed as chaotic evil and vengance for his ancestors.

– Aokiji (Kuzan): The lone exception in complexity, yet still an ex-admiral turned villain, and never the hero.

– King (Lunarian): Physically imposing, mysterious, but ultimately a secondary antagonist with little to no backstory.

– Mr. 1 (Daz Bonez): A silent, deadly assassin, cool, but lacking depth and loses easily. Also a villain.

– Imu: Leader of the world government and ultimate villain of the franchise. He’s a genocidal maniac and has no redeeming qualities.

While Oda doesn’t explicitly code all these characters as Black, their designs, mannerisms, and roles align with tired tropes seen in broader media.

Why Black Nerds Need to Watch Other Things

Here’s the thing, Black people need to expect and support better representation in the media that we pay for. One Piece isn’t the only story out there. Black nerds should seek out works by Black mangaka like Shing02’s Samurai Champloo, or Afro Samurai for richer representation, and be open to switching series when you see these tropes or lack of proper Black representation.

One Piece is great in many ways, but its treatment of Black characters isn’t one of them. That’s okay. Black nerds can love the adventure, laugh at the jokes, and still roll their eyes at the tropes. The series doesn’t deserve uncritical devotion, but it also doesn’t have to be thrown away. Just keep your expectations in check and demand better.

—Kel McKnight, B1Daily