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OK, if we have to do this (ie., if "because the social climate in Britain has changed since the 1970s, and it is therefore more acceptable to cast a black actor in a leading role than it was when previous Doctors were being cast" is somehow inadequate as an explanation), let's do it.
In 1969's 'The War Games', the Time Lords offer Patrick Troughton's Doctor a selection of faces to choose from for his next regeneration. One of these faces is clearly that of a black man (he rejects it as "too fat").
In 1974's 'Planet Of The Spiders', the Time Lord K'anpo (portrayed as Caucasian) regenerates into the form of Cho-Je, who is of asian appearance (to be fair, he's played by a caucasian actor, but so was Li H'sen Chang in 'The Talons of Weng Chiang', and he was clearly supposed to be Chinese - see earlier comments about attitudes towards the casting of non-white actors in the 1970s). The Doctor gives no indication that this change of race is in any way surprising.
In 1979's 'Destiny Of The Daleks', Romana 'tries on' a number of potential new bodies before regenerating. One of these bodies has silverish-blue skin, clearly of completely different racial descent to Mary Tamm, the previous actress to play the role. The Doctor does not deem this worthy of comment.
In the Big Finish range of audio dramas, the Time Lord Rassilon, depicted as caucasian in his televised appearance, is played by Don Warrington, a black actor. In the accompanying artwork, he is represented visually with Warrington's appearance. Again, none of the Time Lord characters find this unusual.
There is no canonical reason for anyone to object to the Doctor turning into a black man. It doesn't even need an in-story explanation. It is, in short, a complete non-issue.
Hurrah! |
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