WOW. If sizable means “no more than one token character in no more than 2 minority groups per show,” then sure, it’s sizable. And again, often the minority is also an alien. Meaning that the paradigm for average human remains one of European descent.

The problem is the limited acting pool, I acknowledge this (especially as most of the sci-fi/speculative shows I watch are filmed in Vancouver). But it is FAR from colorblind; I think w/ the best of intentions, most (excluding the Matrix and Pitch Black [note, in which not 1 but TWO visible minorities survive]) visual sci-fi avoids the race issue by ignoring race completely. The future is always mighty pale.

Books are a different critter, in that sometimes in fantasy/sci-fi/speculative fiction, you don’t get or need physical character descriptions, so there is room for interpretation… that said, why is the paperback illustration always of a Caucasian person, sometimes with a tan?

Keep in mind that the first interracial kiss on television was on a sci-fi show, in a Star Trek episode of the 1960s. Interracial relationships on sci-fi shows are now rare when there are minority characters being portrayed. The Matrix did have plenty of minorities. In fact, the masses of the series seem to be very well mixed.

Science fiction reveals how people view their future. The bad thing is that science fiction is mostly white. However, there is still a sizable number of minorities. Science fiction portrays a color-blind future and racial equality.

With almost all sci-fi TV/movies about white people with occassional token minority actors (bonus points if the tokens are actually playing humans), it’s great to remember that book-verses show much needed diversity.