[TheWindsorStar]

Personally, when I read the books I didn't pick up any hint of racism. I don't think Tolkien even meant to have men with seperate skin colours. Men from Harad probably didn't have naturally black skin. Correct me if I'm wrong. He was trying to create an alternative history for England. Well considering the time period that the books seem to take place in, caucasians would have dominated the area. Any people of other skin colours would have seem misplaced, don't you think? That's not racist, it's acurate.

Now for the sexism issue. Tolkien was most definitely not sexist. Sure, there were no females in the fellowship. Most of the main characters, or the heroes if you will, were male. This is for a reason, though, and that reason is that these were the standards of Middle-earth. Anyhow, look at the female characters that did have a role. Take Eowyn or Luthien for an example. Both very complex and powerful characters, who accomplished great things. Knowing this, it's impossible to say that Tolkien was sexist.