On its surface, James Cameron’s 2009 blockbuster Avatar seems to have a blindingly obvious message. A hymn of praise to the wonder and beauty of nature as well as the virtue of earthy, indigenous cultures while at the same time a scathing condemnation of corporate greed, colonialism, environmental destruction,  military aggression, etc. Many have read deeper to see the film as a racist tale of a “magical white person” a la Dances with Wolves, The Last Samurai, The Help, etc., where a single, or at most, embattled few white people are necessary to rescue poor, underdog, people of color to lead them to victory against a force of hostile invaders/oppressors…