Superman and the Question of Race

[james_davis_nicoll]

Kal-El, Clark Kent, identity, and acceptance.

Superman and the Question of Race

Comments

[patrick_morris_miller]

It’s pretty weird that most Kryptonians look just like white Americans.

One of the few interesting things about the Syfylys series Krypton that got a brief run a few years back was that it established that General Zod was a) Supes' uncle and b) Black.

[sturgeonslawyer]

(I tried to post this on Reactor but for some reason it won't let me -- and, yes, I am logged in.)

This article led me to wonder about the immigration status of all the aliens in the Men in Black continuity (or continuities). One might almost conclude that immigration policies only applied to humans -- in which case Clark Kal-El Superman Kent would be a shoo-in for (quasi?) legal residency.

But he doesn't live in that continuity. As far as we know.

Marying Lois Lane (or some other American citizen residing in the US), as indeed he does in some continuities, could provide a route to legal residency and, potentially, citizenship... in the continuity we live in, anyway.

It's a lengthy and tricky process.

First, he would have to file an I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) to get a green card (which, as you undoubtedly know*, is not green). He might have to get a "waiver of inadmissibility due to unlawful presence." He alsom might have to demonstrate that the marriage was in good faith -- i.e., he didn't marry her just to get the green card. And Lois (or whoever) would have to demonstrate the ability to support him (which, as a Star Reporter, one presumes she could do).

One complication: because he's been in the US more than 180 days, he would, in theory, have to apply through his country's embassy or consulate; obviously, there is none. Right there, any hypothetical Executive with (a) an obsession with deporting people and (b) an obvious hatred for anyone better than themself would have the excuse they needed to toss him into the Gulf of America.**

But let's assume that he gets past all those obstacles and obtains the coveted Green Card.

Next, he has to spend five years in the US without breaking any laws before he could apply for citizenship. Depending on how various governmental entitites approach the question of his unusual hobby (vigilantism), this could be problematic.

But, assuming he gets through that without being deported***, it's a matter of passing a fairly simple civics test, and Bob's your uncle. (Whatever that means.)
__________________________
* Bob.
** This may be the only time I ever voluntarily use that phrase.
*** But to where?

[jbwoodford]

He could start by applying for refugee status:

"I hereby declare that I am a refugee under the terms of the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. I cannot return to my home because we have a well-founded fear of being destroyed by the Dead Gods from beyond the ends of the universe that have returned to feed on this and other worlds it blowed up real good."

[(Anonymous)]

Environmental refugee?

[dewline]

Bingo.

[wild_patience]

I love your second footnote.

[(Anonymous)]

Perhaps related - I can see a header saying there are 15 comments, but none of them are visible.

-Josiah

[mikeda]

Reactor is being quirky about displaying comments. It may also be quirky about posting them.

(If you keep refreshing the page it seems to eventually display the comments. It may take a LOT of refreshes.)

[davidgoldfarb]

I'm finding that if I click on the ordering control at the right and toggle it (i.e., if it says "oldest" switch to "newest" or vice versa) that makes the comments display.

[mikeda]

For Superman there's a pragmatic consideration. Do you really WANT to deport someone that powerful to another country?

[dewline]

"He's a national security ASSET, sir. We are NOT deporting him!"

[armiphlage]

Under ITAR, he'd be classified as a munition requiring an export license.

[patrick_morris_miller]

It used to be that if you knew what prime numbers, exponentiation, and the modulo operator were, it was illegal to export your brain from Unistat without a license

[armiphlage]

Ah yes, I remember when we rolled our own crypto using the university's VAX mainframe.

[(Anonymous)]

My favorite part of the illustration is the guy whose head is exploding after seeing Superman lift a car.

[glaurung]

The interior page features essentially the same image.

[(Anonymous)]

Before seatbelts!

Robert Carnegie

[dragoness_e]

The truly magnificent graphic anthology "Superman: American Alien" comes to mind here. If you haven't read it, you're missing a treat.

"Sard borken!"

[(Anonymous)]

However Superman is classified as an immigrant, he'd better keep his mouth shut. Nowadays people with perfectly legal student visas are getting deported for participating in pro-palestinian student rallies.

-Awesome Aud

[james_davis_nicoll]

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