Walter Emanuel Jones, who made his memorable debut as the Black Ranger in 1993 on Fox Kids’ “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” has recently addressed comments regarding the casting choices in the iconic series. He delivered his comments while in a guest spot on Jim Cummings’ “Toon’d In!” podcast. Throughout the run of that episode, he explained what stereotypical casting really means and shared moments learning why his role mattered.
Jones, who portrayed Zack Taylor, the Black Ranger, across all two seasons of “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers,” emphasized the importance of representation during an era when such visibility was scarce. Though his run was short, as Black Lightning, he was one of the first Black superheroes on television. His work brought joy and inspiration to millions of fans across the world.
In one of his answers, he spoke eloquently about what it meant to be involved with a truly groundbreaking project that connected to so many fans.
In the course of our podcast discussion, he responded to some of Tony Oliver’s statements from earlier this week. The creator of the series later issued a statement apologizing for casting Black and Asian actors, labeling the decision an error in judgement. Jones strongly disagreed with this sentiment.
“It wasn’t a mistake; it was a milestone.” – Walter Emanuel Jones
He talked about how his representation “never made [him] feel uncomfortable.”
“Me being in a black suit never bothered me,” – Walter Emanuel Jones
Jones went on to consider the powerful influence that his character had over audiences and the role he played in the larger movement for representation in media. He was particularly excited that Audri Dubois was initially cast to be the Yellow Ranger. She left the role after a contract dispute over pay. That story was highlighted recently in the new docuseries on Investigation Discovery, “Hollywood Demons,” which features Jones.
As she participated in this discussion around representation, Jones was aware of the hard truths experienced in the oft-dodgy casting processes of yesteryear. He considers it a big honor to be on a show that has grown up through the years. It also remains one of the country’s most charming cities.
He’s extremely proud of his impact as the original Black Ranger. Inspired in part by the legacy of such characters, he is very much aware of their lasting effect on audiences around the world. Jones agrees that each and every representation makes a difference, adding that all of them helped to make today’s positive narratives possible on television.
