Even if you’re not familiar with superheroes I’m sure you know the name, Superman. Superman is an American cultural icon.

Superman is a fictional superhero who appeared in comic books published by DC Comics. Superman is known to have extraordinary powers and abilities such as flight, super-strength, invulnerability, super-speed, vision powers (including x-ray vision, laser eye, heat, telescopic, infra-red and microscopic vision), super-photographic memory, super-hearing and super-breath.

Superman has defeated multiple villains and saved the word numerous times... but what if Superman was black?

Would the world look at him differently?

Would he be considered a super villain rather than a superhero because of the color of his skin?

Well, quite frankly, I believe the answer is YES, the world would see Superman completely different if he was African-American.

His story includes survival, loss, alienation and adaption which, in fact, many black people can relate to. I’m sure the Kents would have still raised Superman, but this time in secret if in the Civil Rights Era.

I’m sure black people themselves wouldn’t like Superman. A black man with all that power and he does nothing to help the black community, like fighting crime isn’t enough.

Society would be afraid of a black man with Superman abilities because society is aware of the damage it has done to black people. Most of the time you are only afraid of someone if you know you’ve done something wrong.

Although Superman fights the bad guys and wants to PROTECT America, if he was black, I’m sure his great intentions would be overlooked, and the villains he fought would defeat him all the time with the help of the scared, confused, citizens.

Some may say with Superman being black that should change the way people see the black population as a whole. People should appreciate black people and treat them no less than the average citizen.

Theoretically, yes, that would be a logical outcome for people to depict the African-American population in a positive light.

But, looking at history, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Nelson Mandela and thousands more had great intentions for America and still ended up dead, hated and black.

Is it possible for a black person to be an American Cultural Icon? Of course, it is.

But is it possible for Superman to be black?

This raises the question: What if Superman was gay? Or a black woman?

What does this say about society?

Why does the color of your skin potentially control your life and make decisions for you without even speaking?