#BoycottStarWarsVII is a hashtag that started on Twitter and has taken over social media recently; its supporters claim to be using it to boycott the upcoming Star Wars movie because the film is “anti-white.”

How could a movie like Star Wars, set in a galaxy far far away, promote anti-white propaganda? Some argue it is because the main character in the new installment of the Star Wars series is African-British actor John Boyega.

Tweet user “genophilia” tweeted, “#BoycottStarWarsVII because white children deserve wholesome movies, not more PC anti-white diversity crap.”

However, it is now more than ever that minorities need representation in media, especially on the big screen. For years, people of color have been watching movies with little to no representation. Having black actors in a movie as famous as Star Wars is a major step forward.

This is not the first time that Star Wars has had people of color in their films. Darth Vader was voiced by black actor James Earl Jones, and who could forget Mace Windu, portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson?

But apparently having a main character that is of color is one too many for Twitter users like “genophilia.” People of color have almost always been reduced to minor characters, often portraying stereotypes with little to no character development.

John Boyega’s character and representation on the big screen is a perfect example of minorities wanting to act and be on the big screen. Representation matters; if one is growing up with hardly any people of color on mainstream media, then young students of color do not get to grow up with role models like white students get to do.

Aspiring actors, especially those of color, need to know that their efforts for representation in mainstream media are not fruitless and should not be threatened when people believe that their representation is not important in the media.

Actors like Sofia Vergara from “Modern Family,” Jessica Huang from “Fresh Off the Boat” and Viola Davis from “How to Get Away with Murder” are just some who are making important strides for people of color on and off the screen.

Although it may further anger the boycotters of the film, it is important to acknowledge the director of the new Star Wars film, JJ Abrams, for choosing to take such an important step in the right direction by casting actors of color.

“We wrote these characters but when we went to cast it, one of the things I had felt, having been to the Emmys a couple times — you look around that room and you see the whitest f–king room in the history of time. It’s just unbelievably white,” Abrams said in an interview with The New York Post.

Abrams also had another point to add, in a movie taking place in a galaxy far far away, who said there were not any people of color? It seems like anything is possible as long as the force is around.

“And I just thought, we’re casting this and we have an opportunity to do anything we want, why not cast the show with actors of color?” Abrams asked.