Martha and the Message of Black Women
Recently Jill Scott came out with her raw, insightful piece about the "wince" she feels when ever she discovers a successful Black man in a relationship with a White Woman. And while she and many other Black Women like myself are not against Interracial relationships, the relationship is just a constant reminder of where we are on the Hierarchy of
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Throughout Doctor Who, the Doctor is attracted to white woman after white woman, and then along comes smart, resourceful, Martha and again it shows that what ever we do as Black Women-no matter how smart, how brave, how beautiful we truly are- we still can't measure up to our White counterparts.
I think this is what we have a difference of opinion on, I don't see The Doctor's affections as a litmus test of desirability for the show. Martha received a good amount of male attention from other male characters, arguably more than Rose because of her fixation on Ten. Jack took a particular interest in her, as did Shakespeare, Tom, a few other guest stars and ultimately Mickey.
Personally, the one thing I loved so much about Martha was her ability to move beyond her companion status and become someone pretty extraordinary. Rose was defined by The Doctor, so much that her story ended with her going off with a copy of the original. Her returns fell a little flat because of that, and a character that started off as entertaining ended up needy and selfish.
I don't think The Doctor is a perfect character (despite Russell T.Davis' hero worship of the character), he has faults and makes mistakes, and in this case didn't see the wonderful woman that was standing in front of him. But I consider this The Doctor's failing, his flaw. Not a reflection on Martha as a character.
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<"Martha received a good amount of male attention from other male characters">
That would have been fine, if not for the fact that the audience really cares about the Hero's treatment and behavior towards Martha. If the Doctor didn't find her attractive but secondary character did, that's great in a bubble, but we aren't in a bubble. His attitudes towards his companions will generally shape and reflect the audience's attitudes towards Martha as well. And that's dangerous.
<"I consider this The Doctor's failing, his flaw. Not a reflection on Martha as a character"> I agree with this wholeheartedly. He is a huge moron for not seeing the beautiful woman that was standing in front of him. But it still aversively sends a dangerous, pervasive message that I don't need to see played out on a Science Fiction show.
Thank you again for taking the time to read and comment :D
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But, yes, the audience does not care about Julia because the Doctor has already declared that she was useless.
Doctor Who plots does this a lot, right up to Midnight and that amazing scene when Ten realizes he never asked the woman who saved his life her name.
bcbgrl33 writes:That would have been fine, if not for the fact that the audience really cares about the Hero's treatment and behavior towards Martha. If the Doctor didn't find her attractive but secondary character did, that's great in a bubble, but we aren't in a bubble. His attitudes towards his companions will generally shape and reflect the audience's attitudes towards Martha as well. And that's dangerous.
It is scary, but I'm a little more frightened of an audience who find Martha unappealing because the Doctor behaves like a jerk towards her. "Losing" Rose is a poor excuse for his behavior. It is not as if the Doctor, in order to save the universe, had to hold Jack back while Rose stumbled in front of truck and was killed. She's alive, with her dead father restored to her, living in a mansion.
Russell's presentation of Ten becoming self-centered, arrogant to the point of feeling he was omnipotent, and generally feeling that he was entitled because he has a broken heart was deliberate. Ten does not get better, we discover with Water of Mars.
Exactly how fast and long is Rose supposed to dance to keep 10.5 from going rogue?
Peri's "Why do I have to suffer" never rang more true than when Ten Tells Martha in Human Nature that the Tardis will provide for him but that she would have to improvise.
Martha should have had the opportunity to say: Well why can't I stay with the TARDIS? Martha becoming a maid served no purpose whatsoever, other than showing how little Ten cared about her well being. But,Six cared about Peri -- he was just sick.
Contrast the Doctor's treatment of Martha in Human Nature, to Jack Harkness' care of Tosh in the Captain Jack Harkness Episode. Jack is at home in World War II London, partying, flirting, and he at first tells Tosh to just fit in. When he overhears a "good" person expressing some very harmful racism, Jack reassures Tosh that he will take care of her.
David says that although the Doctor does not intend to make Martha feel undesirable, he does. He does not consider her feelings. He--David's words-- does not know what to do with her. He likes Martha because she is brave, resourceful, therefore useful. She allows him to vent and talk about himself.
Still David insist that the Doctor never accepts Martha. He interrupts her life. (David describes the Doctor's behavior as uncharitable, insensitive, unforgiving, because Martha is not Rose. David says the Doctor's behavior towards Martha is shocking.
Russell has Jack suggest to brunette Martha that she would get better treatment if she were blonde. Chantho tells the Doctor that she,too, is the last of her kind, and Jack is forced to remind the Doctor to say he's sorry.
Jack,-- and I think we were supposed to realize Jack is talking about Martha's as well as himself,-- tells the Doctor he is prejudiced and he should be ashamed. I have to say Russell has an odd manner of hero worshiping a character.
I would disagree that such a story should not be in a science fiction show. It is the target age of Doctor Who audience that concerns me. It is easier for a young audience to find fault with someone their hero maltreats or even abuses, than to admit the Hero is wrong.
Martha displays the courage to walk away, not throw her pearls before a man who behaves like a selfish swine towards her. She does not waste away at her Mother's house waiting for the Doctor to call, or lie in bed because she has nothing to do. Martha pursues her career, and finds love twice. She is a strong Black woman but when we see her again Torchwood she is desired, admired, care dfor, and even cherished by Jack and his team.
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