‘Lord of the Rings’ Called ‘Anti-African,’ Students Outraged on Campus

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University of Nottingham students have expressed concern after a history course described J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings as racially offensive.

The debate centers around a course module, “Decolonising Tolkien et al,” led by historian Dr. Onyeka Nubia. The module explores how racial biases have appeared in British literature throughout history. Course materials suggest that in Tolkien’s writings, characters with darker skin, like orcs, are often portrayed as evil, while lighter-skinned characters are presented as good. The course argues this pattern reflects a long history of racial stereotypes.

The course also explores how Tolkien depicts characters from the East – like the Easterlings and Southrons – as naturally inclined towards evil.

Some materials suggest Tolkien’s fictional races reflect prejudiced views towards Africans, depicting them as adversaries to white characters. Students are encouraged to examine literature with a focus on decolonization, meaning they analyze classic works from the viewpoints of people from non-Western and non-white backgrounds.

Dr. Nubia’s work explores the presence of Africans in medieval England and how their stories were often left out of historical accounts. The course also examines how C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe portrays other cultures in a biased way. Dr. Nubia has also discussed Shakespeare’s plays, arguing that they contributed to a false impression of England as a racially uniform society by not including African characters or references.

Some students and professors have criticized the course. One professor called the claim that Tolkien was anti-African “ridiculous,” arguing it doesn’t consider what Tolkien was trying to achieve as an author or the typical elements of his fantasy genre.

As a big fan of Lord of the Rings, I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz online, and it sounds like some students are really upset. Apparently, a source told RadarOnline.com that it feels like the professor is pushing a specific political viewpoint onto the story, and fans are not happy about it. One student even said there’s pressure to agree with this interpretation just to get a good grade, and they see it as taking things way too far – turning a beloved fantasy world into a political test.

It’s good to think deeply about what we read, but it’s easy to go too far when applying today’s political ideas to stories and fictional worlds. Tolkien’s books are meant to be fantastical, and focusing only on issues of race can overshadow the creativity and imagination that have made them so beloved for generations.

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2025-12-31 13:20