X Men and marginalized groups

I've been a comic book fan for a long time and something that's always struck a chord with me is the X Men.  In the Marvel comic X Men,  a series of ongoing natural mutations have accelerated the evolution of certain humans. Some mutants develop superhuman powers and often cannot control them without sufficient training or technology. Other mutants experience physiological changes such as Beast who went from being human to a blue haired beast.These mutations manifest while the person is in their teenage years and the "coming out" is a traumatic experience   Mutants often struggle with self identity and are usually persecuted or exploited by those around them.  Mutants choose their own path, some choose to join mutant groups such as the X Men headed by Professor Charles Xavier, others choose to join the Mutant Brotherhood led by Magneto. Most however don't choose any side and try to lead a normal life.

Now the X Men represent the effort to facilitate the peaceful co existence of mutants and humankind. The Mutant Brotherhood is essentially a militant mutant separatist movement, Magneto considers himself the advocate for mutant self defense against the prosecution of mutant kind. This is way I always thought about the difference between the two leaders. Charles Xavier is Dr. Martin Luther King and Magneto is Malcolm X. Neither position is inherently "better" than other, it's a matter of philosophy. It's the open palm or the raised fist.

Think about people who identify as LGBTQ. They experience face legal and cultural discrimination on a daily basis. Sexual identity comes about the in adolescent years. The identity crisis associated with feeling as the other. Some choose to come out and others choose to conceal their sexuality. There are various LGBTQ rights movements ranging from the Marriage Equality movement, who demand equal marriage laws, to the radical anarchist Bash Back! movement, who advocate the change of cultural values and self defense.

Personally I always identified with these mutant characters because of my own issues with racial identity. I am a first generation American and I've felt the sting of prevalent institutionalized racism and class barriers.

I think anyone who is or looking into becoming a Young Adult librarian should really consider reading some X Men and consider the potential for outreach and the promotion of a safe library space.

Now I leave you with a video which I hope explains Xavier and Magneto's relationship.