From what just started out as trolling on the Internet has now grown into something more. J.J. Abrams' anticipated film within the "Star Wars" canon has garnered much attention in pop culture, with most looking forward to the release of the film on December 18.

However, that hasn't stopped trolls from stating that the new film is promoting an "anti-white" attitude and that is it discriminatory towards Caucasians. It is, apparently, due to the inclusion of John Boyega's character within the movie. Boyega, who is African-American, is one of the main characters of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," and thus has had considerable screen time in movie trailers. The backlash seems to emanate from an opinion that the incorporation of an black actor combating other actors, who may be Caucasian in descent, is anti-white propaganda.

Now, most people don't believe in such discriminatory, bigoted Internet garbage. But there's a small minority making themselves vocal on the Internet through social media avenues such as Twitter to make an argument for their crass opinions. Also, since it is the Internet, these statements come with their own sense of anonymity. This leads to statements that would have previously been ignored in reality to now be available for millions to see.

So, is it really considered a valid opinion among a group of bigots, or is it just Internet trolls having "fun"? This is where it gets really tricky to separate the serious believers from the jokesters (albeit with a very low-brow, tasteless sense of humor). Knowing what we know about race relations within the United States and the continuing plague of racism and white superiority, you can see where this can be seen as problematic.

Honestly, it is quite hard to tell the difference. With the Internet allowing practically everyone to project themselves into the public eye, it's hard to see if statements like these are made seriously or if it's all just a digital farce that will soon be forgotten. Regardless, having this issue being brought up in mass media brings up an uncomfortable topic. What allocates media as being racist or not? When is media progressive with its use of ethnic group inclusions? What exactly is whitewashing within pop-culture? These are multi-faceted arguments that hold too many subtleties and complexities to fully be able to explain why there has been this out-of-place backlash on a beloved film franchise.

Many of those that are "attacking" the film seem to forget of the inclusion of several other actors within the "Star Wars" franchise that were of different ethnic backgrounds. In the first set of trilogies, we had Lando Calrissian, played by African-American actor Billy Dee Williams. While portrayed as a charming smuggler with a heart of gold (not unlike Han Solo), he was still a central, benevolent figure in "The Empire Strikes Back." In "Return of The Jedi," we see him yet again being the prominent squadron leader of the Rebel Alliance. Lando was a character that was portrayed realistically and in good faith. He is still considered one of the most beloved characters of the franchise. There is also Mace Windu, played by acclaimed actor Samuel L. Jackson. Mace Windu is one of the prestigious Jedi of the Jedi Council. Whether through the use of politics or skill with a lightsaber, he is another POC (person of color) character within the "Star Wars" films that is greatly loved.

So why is Boyega's character of Finn within "The Force Awakens" getting so much hate? I hope that it's only the churlish statements of Internet trolls and not due to a decidedly sinister, now public, opinion. What does this really say about how we feel about race within the United States today? I, for one, love the inclusion of actors with different ethnic backgrounds. It illustrates the actual multi-cultural world that we live in (like it or not) and gives voice and recognition to others that sadly end up being white-washed by Hollywood. Big Hero 6 proved that a diverse cast does nothing but add to the wonderfulness of a film, and lets us explore a world that we might not have exposure to otherwise. Which is kind of the entire point of film! Film allows us to experience a world we might not otherwise be able to experience.

There is a boycott to not attend the movie going on among this reviled group. I say OK to that. Let them not attend. We'll all see what that proves (or confirms) to everyone else. Oh well, more "Star Wars" and popcorn for me.