CorporationAFK ♀

It's also ties in with the message and recurring theme of Static Shock: Redemption. (Which is something that IIRC the original comic by Dwayne Macduffie goes into). Virgil got his powers and became Static Shock because he got involved with a gang war. Despite being an incredibly smart, good natured kid with father who was an upstanding pillar of the community...he let himself get sucked into one the gangs plaguing Dakota City, to deal with a bully (who was also a gang leader). Even given a gun and tempted to kill Francis Stone (Hotstreak). Keep in mind, Virgil's mother, an EMT was killed in a gang war by a stray bullet trying to save lives. Thankfully Virgil didn't pull the trigger on Francis, and after the Big Bang, used his new powers to become a superhero. While others of the gangs involved who also got powers turned to a life of crime. Static continously fought against and stopped him, not only redeeming himself for his mistake, but by living up to his potential and then some. He became a beacon of hope and righteousness. In fact, in large part thanks to Static efforts would also go on the path of redemption and rehabilitation, including Hotstreak, his sworn enemy and criminal. Going to Richie's father, his bigotry and disdain for Virgil and family was misplaced...but it also didn't come out of nowhere. Again, Dakota City had rampant gang violence, and fact of the matter is many gangs often had a specific ethnic makeup or grew up in certain areas. Does that justify Richie's bigotry, especially against people who were also victims of those gangs? No. Yet it does put it into context and understanding on why he would make that error. Especially under duress, trying to protect his family even how he went about was misguided. His hatred and prejudice isn't out of some sinister, deep rooted malice. Yet the show goes onto to demonstrate that while Sean was wrong, he's not evil nor truly unreasonable. Nor incapable of change, especially when those like Robert Hawkins and Static prove his perceptions are skewed. Even if he was apprehensive and standoffish to Robert, he still worked with him to save his son and took his words into consideration. By the end he softens up and changes for the better. Because believe it or not, one genuinely positive experience can change someone or plant a seed. Because just because someone is wrong, even really wrong about something...doesn't mean they aren't irredeemable or even bad overall. Static Shock as a show was about genuine, hope, and change for the better in a world infested with all sorts of evils. That's what made it so great. Nowadays, if I am being frank, those who say Sean Foley or bigots like him shouldn't been redeemed...really just want a punching bag often to project their own obvious bigotry onto. (Keep in mind, the definitions of bigotry is in fact a complete intolerance and unthinkable hostility to othets who have a differing views. Not taking into consideration nuances, blindspots in their thinking, or have flaws in their understanding. Which mind you, everyone has, including me). An avatar of the wrongs of the world to feel great about condemning and telling to do better. Except they don't really want him to do or be better, they want someone who will kowtow and past failings held over him forever, to browbeat into submission or just turn into the caricature they always believed he was. Redemption is not option, because they don't want it. Even if the person isn't some grand insidious villain...but a common person with their own flaws.