Has Marvel Comics ever retconned Whitewash Jones, the racial stereotype from the Golden Age's Young Allies?

Question

I know Marvel has retconned a lot of their Golden Age characters (from back when they were Timely Comics) to allow them to fit into current continuity. The Young Allies, a WWII era comic featuring Bucky and Toro, sidekick to the original Human Torch, also featured an embarassingly racist stereotype in Whitewash Jones. Have any modern Marvel books mentioned this character or tried to do something about his uncomfortable image? Or is it now as if the character never existed in the Marvel Universe?

Answer 1

I remember this character in the early Marvel comics. As a Black Man the image of “Whitewash Jones” made me cringe. I haven’t seen any effort to reestablish Whitewash Jones. However, I think re defining him would be an interesting challenge...

Perhaps after World War II, Jones, (I'm sure he would have dropped the "Whitewash" nick name by then) returned to the states after fighting for "Freedom" in Europe. He is shocked and angered that he is not hailed as a hero, but because he is *****, is relegated to second-class citizen status.

That would be a tough thing for Jones to take. He fought the Nazis for his country only to have that same country ignore his heroism.

Most of the good jobs were given to white WW II vets leaving Jones to pick from menial jobs for which he is now over qualified. Maybe Jones gets a job as a railroad porter, (this was considered a good job for a ***** man at the time), but he was fired one day because Jones refused to let a white passenger slap him for a mistake the passenger made but was too embarrassed to admit.


Possibly Jones then became some sort of civil rights organizer, using his wartime experience to uplift the ***** community. That is until the director of the FBI decided that Jones was getting to "uppity" and decided to discredit his efforts by labeling him a communist agitator. The FBI sends in undercover agents to disrupt the organization. When Jones fights back, the government sends in their best man to put Jones down for good. That man turns out to be none other than the legendary Captain America.

Captain America is told that the FBI has a lead on a Commie spy ring. Cap takes the assignment and eventually comes face to face with Jones. Jones tries to tell Cap who he is and how they fought side by side during the war, but Cap won't listen. Cap engages in battle thinking this will be an easy win, but is surprised by Jones' acrobatic moves. Cap can't connect with his shield and Jones is able to roll with Cap's best punches.

After several minutes of dodging Cap's attack, Jones executes a maneuver that catches Captain America off guard knocking Cap flat on his back.
Cap is stunned. He asks Jones where did he learn that move. Jones tells Cap his good friend Bucky Barnes taught him that during the war. Cap now knows he's made a terrible mistake.

Once Cap realizes who Jones is and what his real mission is, the support of Civil Rights for the ***** in America, Cap tells J. Edgar Hoover himself that what Jones is doing is not only right but if anyone from his office tries to stop Jones they will hear from Cap personally. And not in a good way.

Years later Jones tells his young nephew of his clash with Captain America. A young nephew by the name of Sam Wilson.

Answer 2

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RE:
Has Marvel Comics ever retconned Whitewash Jones, the racial stereotype from the Golden Age's Young Allies?
I know Marvel has retconned a lot of their Golden Age characters (from back when they were Timely Comics) to allow them to fit into current continuity. The Young Allies, a WWII era comic featuring Bucky and Toro, sidekick to the original Human Torch, also featured an embarassingly racist stereotype...

Answer 3

Whitewash Jones

Answer 4

My opinion is the most inaccurate or way-off racial stereotypes is our Filipino men is not black and white. Is to racial brown. That's it!

Answer 5

no