Powerful Secrets Unveiled: Untold Controversies Behind the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Original 1990s Lineup!

Summary

The original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers lineup has faced accusations of racial coding.

Actor Walter Jones says that the selection of colors for the Rangers was not intentionally racist. Despite this, recent iterations of Power Rangers, such as the 2017 movie and the latest TV seasons, have taken steps to prevent facing similar accusations.

Accusations of racism have plagued the original incarnation of the Power Rangers, which gained popularity through the 1990s show Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. As the franchise prepares to celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2023, it is important to acknowledge the controversies surrounding the show. Despite its enduring popularity, the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers faced issues, including allegations of homophobic abuse on set that prompted Original Blue Ranger David Yost to leave the show in 2010. Furthermore, criticism has been directed towards the show's color choices for the initial lineup of Rangers, with accusations of racism arising.

The First Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Lineup Has Been Criticized For Racism

While still cherished by many '90s children, the initial lineup of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers has faced criticism concerning alleged racial coding. The controversy arose from the casting choices of Black actor Walter Jones as the original Black Ranger, Zack Taylor, and Vietnamese-American actress Thuy Trang as the Yellow Ranger, Trini Kwan. Over the years, as audiences have rightfully become more aware of the significance of representation in media, accusations of deliberate racism have been directed towards the show. This issue has sparked extensive online discussions and even inspired a parody in a Key & Peele sketch, highlighting the sheer absurdity (via YouTube).

What The Power Rangers Cast Have Said About The Original Lineup

According to Splinter, although the color choices for the Power Rangers were seen as potentially racist, actor Walter Jones, who played the original Black Ranger, has stated that they were unintentional. He revealed that Trini's role as the Yellow Ranger was initially meant for Hispanic-American actress Audri Dubois, who left the show following a payment disagreement. However, it is important to note that producers did contribute to reinforcing racial stereotypes by depicting Jones's character as having an interest in hip-hop, inventing the concept of "Hip Hop Kido" - a fictional martial arts style intertwined with dance.

Subsequent versions of the Power Rangers franchise have made an evident effort to avoid repeating the errors made by Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Despite the criticism it faced, the 2017 reboot film, Power Rangers, can be credited for its more diverse group of Rangers. In a similar manner, the most recent seasons of the television series, Power Rangers Dino Fury (which will continue as Power Rangers Cosmic Fury later this year), continue this trend by featuring a diverse main cast. Moreover, they have been careful to steer away from any potential association of racial stereotypes with the Rangers' color selection.

Sources: Entertainment Weekly, Key & Peele/YouTube, Splinter