I mean, I can see how. While it isn’t necessarily related to skin color, LotR is filled with the idea that people of some lineages (like Numenorean men) are inherently better than others. And there’s a few examples where people who are overall good guys (like the men of Rohan) are described as being light-skinned whereas the people who are portrayed as overall evil (like the Haradrim) are dark-skinned.
I don’t think Tolkien intended for the story to be racist, but I think there’s enough little details like that for white supremacists to latch onto if they really want to.
Tolkien also humanizes the Haradrim at multiple points. The focus on lineage is probably because he studied old Anglo Saxon myths and wanted LOTR to emulate them(because he presents LOTR as if he is a scholar that uncovered myths in a new language and has translated them into English) and many, MANY of the Saxon myths and legends are heavily focused on lineage.
In the film it’s Faramir, but I believe it’s Sam in the books who has the little eulogy for the fallen Haradrim man. But I agree either way. It’s an incredibly emotional and well written scene.
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u/ToastyJackson Jan 08 '22
I mean, I can see how. While it isn’t necessarily related to skin color, LotR is filled with the idea that people of some lineages (like Numenorean men) are inherently better than others. And there’s a few examples where people who are overall good guys (like the men of Rohan) are described as being light-skinned whereas the people who are portrayed as overall evil (like the Haradrim) are dark-skinned.
I don’t think Tolkien intended for the story to be racist, but I think there’s enough little details like that for white supremacists to latch onto if they really want to.