Source: Krinna
I recently re-watched the first Hunger Games movie, and in the middle of crying my eyes out after Rue’s death, I remembered an interesting video essay I watched a few years back. It was about the backlash surrounding Rue’s characterization as a Black girl. In a YouTube video essay titled “The Day Rue ‘Became’ Black,” Yahara Zayd touches on the racist reactions that Rue’s actor/character received and the adultification of young Black girls. If you’re not familiar with the term “adultification,” it refers to the different treatment of children, often resulting in the child being denied childhood experiences and thrust into adult responsibilities at a young age. Adultification often happens as a result of race, gender, and/or socioeconomic status. If that’s intriguing to you in relation to The Hunger Games, I highly recommend giving Zayd’s video essay a watch!
Now, what does Rue have to do with this blog post, you may be asking? Well, in honor of Black History Month, I wanted to highlight a side of Black people that we rarely see portrayed in the media: Black innocence. By Black innocence, I’m referring to the portrayal of Black people in media and literature in ways that don’t primarily highlight their strength and resilience, but rather their innocence and vulnerability.
This specific characterization of Black people can be hard to find. The United States only legalized Black voting rights sixty years ago, and Black people are still disproportionately affected by poverty, incarceration, and homelessness. Seeing Black people win in wide media representation is critical in mitigating the effects of negative stereotypes.
But what does innocent representation look like?
Well, this is where Rue comes back into play. This representation means seeing Black people live their lives without worry of being seen as strong solely for the sake of others, which ultimately teaches society at large to be okay with it. Rue’s character and her actor, Amandla Stenberg, received heavy backlash for being Black because some people thought this cheapened her character and that her death “wasn’t as sad” because of the color of her skin. Rue’s character was meant to remind Katniss of her younger sister, Prim, due to her small stature and age. Rue was still characterized as cunning and resourceful, but her primary goal as a character is to exhibit innocence, sparking outrage among Panem and the viewer, as couch citizens of the Capitol, at the cruelty of the games. Even in this partial display of innocence, Rue’s character and subsequent death weren’t allowed to just be sob-inducing—it had to be, in some people’s minds, an organized play at political correctness.
Modern media has taken a step toward better representation of Black people, exemplified by some of my current favorite Black characters, Dr. Nya Wallace and Lisa Todd Wexley in HBO’s And Just Like That. My hope is that Black people can have representation that allows characters to experience the full display of human emotion without outrage. Black people deserve to have stories that flesh out the nuanced experiences that are life outside of just success, resilience, and comedy that we’re used to. I want to see Black characters experience heartbreak, anger, and confusion within media that doesn’t have to be scrutinized for what it is: life.
I want to cry at Rue’s death in peace, and the only way to accomplish that is to advocate for media that doesn’t push Black characters into boxes to adhere to social norms.
Audrey Ball
Student Representative, High Plains Region, 2025-2026
Rho Psi Chapter, Secretary
Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS
Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honor Society, was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University. The Society strives to
- Confer distinction for high achievement in English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies;
- Provide, through its local chapters, cultural stimulation on college campuses and promote interest in literature and the English language in surrounding communities;
- Foster all aspects of the discipline of English, including literature, language, and writing;
- Promote exemplary character and good fellowship among its members;
- Exhibit high standards of academic excellence; and
- Serve society by fostering literacy.
With over 900 active chapters located in the United States and abroad, there are more than 1,000 Faculty Advisors, and approximately 9,000 members inducted annually.
Sigma Tau Delta also recognizes the accomplishments of professional writers who have contributed to the fields of language and literature.
