On one hand, she's pretty much your usual Mammy caricature - a large black woman with red lips, an apron, and a headscarf. Except I don't really feel any malicious intent here - just a sort of misguided attempt at someone in Nintendo telling Gamefreak to include "more diversity", and unfortunately Japan's idea of black people is restricted to Bob Sapp and google images.
And even if you don't feel offended, Nintendo clearly decided that something needed to change, because after a short while they removed the apron from her artwork and anime appearances. I don't remember hearing any noise about it at the time, so probably it was just an internal decision once the game got into the hands of NOA's marketers.
Unfortunately, even setting that aside, Lenora is still boring. Normal-type leaders tend to be, and she just feels like she hasn't really gotten into her role yet. I guess her gym was fossil themed? She could do a lot more to look like an archaeologist, historian, explorer, something.
Again, she's just not worth getting offended about, or even caring about at all. It's an ironic shame the first black Gym Leader is so... vanilla.
Overall: 3/10
Again, she's just not worth getting offended about, or even caring about at all. It's an ironic shame the first black Gym Leader is so... vanilla.
Overall: 3/10
Eh, I liked Lenora.
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