The other problem with picking on Harry Potter is ignoring the fact that it was not written to be a world-wide smash. It was written by an English woman, for a young English audience. She wrote the initial work to reflect England as she knew it. Yes there are minorities, and this is key: the minorities do not in and of themselves divide up into the 'sides'. Their status as minorities has no influence on their ranks as wizards (Kingsley), nor their choice to be good or bad.
If anything, the fascinating thing is that she relates the children to the experiences of classes and minorities in an objective manner - by using the Houses of the school, and the use of muggles and mudbloods, to show that stereotyping and discrimination can exist on ANY criteria, not just what you see in front of you. Young readers do eventually make those connections, even if it appears this author didn't.
(no subject)
If anything, the fascinating thing is that she relates the children to the experiences of classes and minorities in an objective manner - by using the Houses of the school, and the use of muggles and mudbloods, to show that stereotyping and discrimination can exist on ANY criteria, not just what you see in front of you. Young readers do eventually make those connections, even if it appears this author didn't.