To include a character with certain skin or hair color isn't racist.
In any case, it would be racist to complain about a character's skin or hair color.
No I agree, having a character with a certain skin or hair color shouldn't be considered racist, but that's not what some of the people on Reeee are saying, or at least that's not how they're framing their disappointment. They're doing what you're mentioning in your second sentence.
We didnt need another blonde fighter (time for a red head). But I dont mind his gameplay. Resetera's reaction is so cringe though, saying he represents white supremacy, wtf. Tired of those idiots. There's nothing wrong with being patriotic and loving your country. The people complaining about his race are the biggest racists. But then, woke libtards are all like that. No wonder the world is in such a sad state of affairs with these clowns calling the shots.
Bolded especially; I'm tired of idiots conflating patriotism with ethnonationalism, they are not one in the same. The latter uses the former as an excuse for fueling potentially dangerous ideas and actions built off of them, but the former is mainly just having appreciation for your nation's history, heritage, its accomplishments and culture, etc.
People should have a sense of (reasonable) pride, honor, respect for the nation they grew up in, but only if you're an American are you told by idiots to not do so. Yes this country has made some big mistakes in the past and has its problems, but that's the case with EVERY NATION ON EARTH. These idiots want to claim they support equality, but never practice it.
That said I don't want to make this too political so I'll stop there.
It's not even about being white. It's about character design variety. This character looks like another, Alex, Ed. There are a ton of blond white American dudes in this game. Hell Id take a Scottish white red hair dude, a white Australian etc. Besides the colour of his skin his design is garbage too. Finally id like to see more fighting styles represented in the Street Fighter universe, drunken boxer, capoeri, wing chun and etc. I had the same issue when Kage and Dan were announced when we got more Japanese shotos.
For sure; IMO SFV's new designs are better than IV's, because that game had embarrassments like Rufus and El Fuerte, while the closest V has gotten (again for new characters only) is Luke, and I'd take Luke over any of the new chars from IV aside from Juri and C.Viper.
I do also get the criticism about there being a ton of blond white American males in the game in particular; you'd think with most of the blonds they'd at least choose a country like Sweden or something, where there are a ton of natural blondes. Add to that the fact Lucia (who's Puerto Rican) is both American and they ALSO made
her a blonde (tho I'm not complaining there; she's hot), and I think that part of things calls for some bigger critiquing of the development staff. They seem to think America is Norway :S.
You do highlight a bigger issue tho, and why I think I'm worried about how good the designs for SF6 will be: they kind of just keep picking the same few spots over and over. That's going to limit the amount of visual variety in the designs as well as fighting styles. We don't need 10 shotos in a single game but you never know with Street Fighter. I at least hope they don't homogenize the cast for VI so much that some of my favorites (Dudley, Necro, Twelve, Elena, Rolento, etc.) have a chance to come back in a big way.
In any case, if Capcom drops the ball I'm at least glad other fighting games seem to be coming up big. Strive's doing really well now and holding strong, and I hope other fighters can grow similarly. It'll pressure Capcom to not get complacent with the next game, and try being more innovative in parts of the design. I think they could use that sort of kick in the pants.
That's not what some of them are complaining about though. They are equating his race to "white supremacy" and how him being a patriot somehow is problematic in 2021.
Yep; it's absolutely idiotic and even disgusting on multiple levels. It's like they're brainwashed.