Power Rangers | Between Worlds: The Black Autistic Experience Through Billy
Today, we’re diving into a very important topic — what it means to be Black and autistic, and how that experience is represented through the character Billy in the 2017 film Power Rangers. Billy, portrayed as openly autistic and Black, brought visibility to a community that is so often left out of superhero narratives and mental health conversations.🧠 Billy: A Black, Autistic SuperheroBilly’s character is nerdy, passionate, deeply kind, and socially awkward. He info-dumps, overexplains, misses social cues, and struggles with grief after losing his father. He’s desperate for connection — but despite his intelligence and warmth, he’s isolated and misunderstood. His representation meant a lot to so many who saw themselves in him — especially as someone navigating both racial and neurodivergent identities.📊 The Diagnosis Gap in Black CommunitiesBefore we even jump into scenes, we wanted to highlight a painful truth: Black and Hispanic children are significantly underdiagnosed with autism compared to white children. This disparity often leads to missed support, years of misunderstanding, and mental health challenges that are never properly addressed.We talk about how many of Dr. Naz’s clients report feeling “not Black enough” or “not white enough,” stuck between identities and rejected by their own communities. They’re bullied for being too nerdy, too quiet, too sensitive — for not fitting the mold. This often leads to internalized shame, depression, trauma, and anxiety that gets misdiagnosed, if it's diagnosed at all.😔 Bullying, School Trauma & HomeschoolingThis episode is for the kids who had to leave school because the bullying became too much. For the parents watching their child come home in tears, afraid to go back. For the students being picked on for being autistic, dressing differently, or being queer. We see you. We hear you. And we made this episode with you in mind.💚 A Tribute to Jason David Frank & Men’s Mental HealthThis episode also honors Jason David Frank, the original Green Ranger, who tragically passed away by suicide. We use this moment to talk about the importance of men’s mental health — especially within the autistic community.Too many men are hurting in silence. Too many are afraid to be vulnerable, afraid to say “I’m not okay.” But we want to challenge that. The most masculine thing you can do is open up, ask for help, and check on your friends — even during game night, at the bar, or playing video games. Emotional connection can literally save lives.💬 Final MessageTo all our listeners: if you’re feeling alone, unheard, bullied, or broken — please know you are not alone. You are not unlovable. You are not “too much.” You are enough.We encourage you to reach out for help — whether that’s therapy, community, friendship, or just sending someone a message saying, “I’m struggling.” Healing is possible. And you deserve to live a full, safe, joyful life.To the kids like Billy: your differences make you magnificent.To the parents and educators: keep fighting for your kids.To the men out there quietly suffering: it’s okay to speak up. We’re listening.Thanks for checking out Different Spectrums! 🎙️ We're a podcast led by licensed therapists and neurodivergent individuals who explore emotions in movies and shows. Our mission is to normalize mental health challenges and promote understanding with your founders and hosts, Dr. Nazeer Zerka and Spencer Srnec.Episode Breakdown:0:00 Attention0:59 Intro4:05 Scenes12:02 DiscussionWe’d love to hear your ideas for future episodes and connect with you on social media. You can find all our links here: https://linktr.ee/different_spectrums⚠️ Reminder: Our podcast isn’t a substitute for therapy. If you need help, please seek professional assistance or call 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or 911 in case of an emergency.
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