#magical negro

[notchainedtotrauma]

Everytime a hot comb simmers we dread. We get hurt so often we think it's a nickname. When we say we remember we mean hurricane, hunt meadow, lust, duty, escape, settle, mourn, birch, baptism, tithe, kneel, Sphinx, throat, offering, animal, deadwood. We get hurt so often we never run. Every time we lick our lips the day obeys and repents. Glory glory hallelujah. Hot comb on the stove. Train tracks in the weeds.

Black Women for Beginners Pt. 1 by Morgan Parker

#Morgan Parker #Magical Negro #misogynoir #transmisogynoir #surrounded by vulnerability #the coolest marvels in the underspace #and against the haze of the afternoon the softest light #here is melancholy

[imthefailedartist]

I like reserving judgment until I actually see the movie, typically, but the full trailer for The American Society of Magical Negroes, was not. . . was. . . wasn't what I thought. . . didn't go the way I thought it would go.

Hmm.

I was expecting something different. . . less, much less, falling for a white woman. More breaking free of the trope for his own journey infinitely less falling in love with a white woman. What I'm saying is, a white woman! This all hinges on him falling for a white woman. Be fucking for real.

But again, it's just the trailer. Maybe the movie is deeper, different, but I don't feel like it will be. I don't know.

Also, he's light skinned, half white. Is he really having the same danger-inducing, uncomfortable, awkward interactions as a darker person. I know he's still having them, but they'd definitely be different in comparison.

Magical negroes tend to be brown-skin. That's how the trope started as an "apology" for the deluge of racist depictions, the blackface, etc.

That trailer reveal was a real, "You had me in the first half, not gonna lie."

#the american society of magical negroes #justice smith #david alan grier #interracial fiction #interracial relationship #magical negro #tropes #magic #aisha hinds #black hollywood #black culture #film history #teaser trailer #colorism

[writingwithcolor]

Black Scientist Self-Sacrifices and Comes Back to Life, Experiences Racism, Bad Relationships

Emmy asked:

Hello, thank you for your time reading and helping me with this. I am currently writing a novel featuring a main character who is a Black man. I am a white woman, and while I did a great deal of research, I want to make sure that I am not using any negative tropes or propagating any harmful stereotypes. 

My main character is a mycologist with the power of mushroom manipulation and, later on in the story, functional immortality based on the condition of a book. He received a PHD from the University of Chicago in the late 1960s. (the story takes place in 1971). After being denied tenure due to his race, he takes a job fighting monsters in a national park. (it had a really high salary) He is a highly empathetic, rational, person who spends most of the story trying to make sure everyone stays focused on the mission at hand. His greatest character flaw would be his tendency to see the best in people to a point that it borders on naivete. Throughout the course of the story he slowly grapples with this flaw and eventually has to come to terms with his new boss, his old mentor, and his girlfriend manipulating him. 

He eventually saves the park using the power of loopholes in a demonic contract. The way he exploits it however, is by killing himself. (The demon’s power was contingent on him staying alive) His body reforms and he comes back a few days later due to his functional immortality. 

A additional potential problem is that one of the side characters, a doppelganger that usually presents themselves as a white man, is the one who performed the ritual giving the MC immortality. Additionally, this character spent a great deal of time lecturing MC into learning how to prevent mind control (a detail that is relevant to the plot) and not to trust the other characters. However, this character has shown themselves to be decidedly untrustworthy. Is this an example of the white savior trope? 

Sacrificial Black man

This is an interesting concept. Regarding the Black man MC killing himself to kill the demon and save the park: Does he know about his immortality? If so, I don’t see it as explicitly sacrificial or devaluing Black life. I’m seeing some Christian / Jesus connections (not sure if intentional) though. If he undergoes torture or pain in killing himself, that feels a bit more iffy, but also not as explicitly problematic if he knows that he’s returning.

If he does believe his death is final upon the self-sacrifice:

Please ensure he (and/or his allies) explored all other possibilities before deciding to kill him. 

For example, was there no way to entrap the monster or an attempt before it was decided to sacrifice the Black man?

Why was the curse connected to his life or death in particular?

Based on the character’s personality of high empathy and rationality, perhaps the sacrifice goes hand in hand with his nature. Still, his life should hold value. 

Who mourns him? 

Or, if knowing he’ll return, helps to lessen the burden of things or cares for affairs in his absence?

What do others do to contribute to saving the park, or is it all on the Sacrificial  / Magical Negro to save the day? 

If you want to reduce some less than stellar aspects of this, it should not all be on him. If it is, then you’ll want to explore those problematic aspects in the story and how racism likely contributes to others devaluing him and taking advantage. 

White savior

So, a white person (or presenting, as they can appear as others it seems?) gave the Black MC his immortality powers and offers advice that will protect his mind. This doesn’t feel like a white savior to me. Not on its own, at least. Giving him powers isn’t directly saving him (although, perhaps it does eventually) White people helping and mentoring BIPOC doesn’t make them a savior. I’d need more specific details to say if I thought it went into that territory. Perhaps their reasoning might change things. For now, I'd say look into the definition of a white savior and see if they apply to your character.

~Mod Colette

#Black #Black men #Black person dies first #Black guy dies first #Sacrificial negro #magical negro #suicide #suicide tw #asks

[jessequinones]

Writing Trope: The Magical Black Person

Ever since I started embracing my indigenous background, my perspective on things changed. Matters I never gave a second thought now give thought. Though I may not be the best at offering advice, I'd like to attempt it, focusing today on the "magical black person" trope. For clarification, I'm a white-passing Puerto Rican of Taino and Berber descent, with much of my life lived in the United States under a white family. I say all of this because the actual name for the trope is called the “magical negro” trope however since I grew up under a white family I don’t feel comfortable saying the actual name but it’s there if you wish to do some research.

The magical black person trope is simple; consider any Stephen King or Morgan Freeman movie (bonus points if you can name a movie with Morgan Freeman based on a story by Stephen King). Typically, there's a black character who aids the white hero by providing advice. If the magical black person is a woman, she often speaks her mind, offering the white hero needed truths. If the character is a black man, he adopts the strong, silent type, conveying profound meaning with few words.

This trope becomes most evident when the magical black person is the sole character of colour. They’re rarely portrayed as rich or powerful; instead, they embody humility and thoughtfulness. Despite potential intimidation, the black man typically has a soft side. Although often less privileged than the white hero, the magical black person aids them because it's the right thing to do. Sometimes, these characters only cross paths once, yet the magical black person imparts essential wisdom that propels the hero forward.

Writers employing the magical black person trope may unconsciously attempt to showcase inclusivity by saying, "I'm not racist; I have a person of color in my story, and they help the hero!" However, if you change the identity of the black character nothing is loss.

Ironically, even in stories advocating against racism, this trope is still relevant as the black person sacrifices everything for the white hero out of "love." A notable example is the relationship between Jim and Tom Sawyer, where Tom gets shot, and Jim risks everything to nurse him back to health.

Elders and tribal leaders also fall under this category. It's almost comical how frequently a white hero enters a tribal village, seeks guidance from the tribal leader, and receives assistance simply because it's deemed the right thing to do. The tribal leader will also give the white hero a spirit name and welcomed them as part of their village. In reality, many elders that I know of had told white people to fuck off.

The inclusion of magical black people can feel forced, as if they exist merely to fulfil a checkbox. The advice they provide is often simplistic, and sometimes the advice had already been given to the hero, but at the time of the story, they were unwilling to hear it, making the magical black person seem redundant.

This trope often intertwines with the "white man's burden," seen in stories where white people “ends racism” with the help of the black community without facing accountability for their actions. "The Help" is a film that get’s a lot of flack for doing just that.

In essence, what makes the magical black person trope problematic is that it reduces them to a servant role for the white hero while positioning them as an exception within their own community. White creators tend to praise the individual black character rather than appreciating black culture—a distinctly white tendency.

The saying "it takes a village to raise a child" isn’t a common approach for white individuals, who often lead isolated lives. Popular stories by white authors emphasise the individual hero's ability to save the day because they’re "special." While the hero may receive assistance, those who help them serve a singular purpose—assisting the hero rather than being integral to the journey. (Not to mention the hero gets the girl in the end because of sexism but I won’t get into that with this post.)

To address this trope, engaged with the community you want to write about. Give the magical black person a meaningful role in the story, making them indispensable. Additionally, consider adding more people of color to your narrative. It could also be beneficial to position the magical black person in a higher position than the hero. Please don’t just listen to my advice, talk to others you’ll learn more, trust me. 

Understanding tropes, their origins, and their implications is a crucial step in becoming a skilled writer. Challenging yourself to view things from different perspectives enhances your writing abilities. If you have any writing-related questions, feel free to message me. You can do it anonymously if you wish. While I may not be perfect, I'll try my best because I like writing, and I like teaching so I’m trying to combine the two. See you next time.

#writing #writeblr #book #books #magical negro #magical black person #writing tropes #wrtier #authors #writing community

[grimlocksword]

'Magical Negroes' Movie PULLED from Theaters!

#youtube #clownfish tv #magical negro

[noeljpenaflor]

Watching THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGICAL NEGROES

The first 15 minutes of this comedy are as incisive as you'd hoped it would be when you saw the title.

Then it devolves into so much speechifying you'd think it's a Mike Flanagan Netflix series.

Again, the first 15 minutes contain 95% of the movie's laughs and then the next 90 minutes are _____-splained in a way that feels like a grade school instruction video about getting a long.

It's not subtle, and it's also not that funny. Solid premise, mid execution.

Being Asian, I don't have a Bagger Vance or the non-white cast of The Help to get me through life's choppy seas but I think I'll be alright.

10 of Cinema’s Most Magical Magical Negros (LINK Below)

Click on this link be helped only if you're a White Character!

#movie #film #movies #films #review #read #film review #magical negro #the american society of magical negroes #reading #articles #article #life #writing community #listicles #listicle #the help #the shining #the matrix #streaming #vod #Youtube

[shadowwingtronix]

Trope Shark> What IS A Magical Negro?

BW Media Spotlight's Trope Shark makes a return to answer the question a recently announced movie forced us to ask, What IS A Magical Negro?

Yes, I’m using that word. Why? I grew up with this: It’s only in the past few months that suddenly “negro” was considered a no-no word up there with that other n-word I’m not going to use because I’m white and I know better. Surface viewing isn’t just for bad adaptations. It’s the word used in the title for a movie that was given the following trailer just before “negro” was turned into a no-no…

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#Magical Negro #Trope Shark #tropes

[cyarsk52-20]

I’m so disappointed. That movie is specifically for yt people. They need to change the title to something else at this point

Stop making films about people of color making yt folks comfortable

Life is not comfortable why should they

#Magical negro #The trailer was giving its going to flop #And I’m pissed #that’s unforgivable #because I thought it was going to be a black Harry Potter #But its was a film that makes yts comfortable #I felt like Tyra when she was yelling at Tiffany #i was rooting for you #we were all rooting for you #how fucking dare you?!?!?! #Learn something from this!

[scifi4wifi]

Trailer Park: The American Society of Magical Negroes

The American Society of Magical Negroes takes the “magical negro” trope, turns it on its head, and makes what looks like will be a great story out of it. It was the official selection of Sundance 2024, though the title might put some viewers off. Watch the trailer and judge for yourself. The new movie The American Society of Magical Negroes (2024) seems to be taking the term literally. Aren,…

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#American Society of Magical Negroes #David Alan Grier #fantasy #Justice Smith #Magical Negro #Satire

[notchainedtotrauma]

Origin was a mystic bounce: it’s fair to say I can’t sit still. First bass line settled into the wood floor of my chest like a gasp. Here is a possible scene from a black and white movie about me: I’m a man on my couch, legs wide and wondering, or drooling wine and Oreo crumbs into my cleavage and I am still broke.

from Black Ego (Original Soundtrack) by Morgan Parker

#Morgan Parker #Magical Negro #beholding Black intimate geographies #a sense of the Black uncanny and the Black fantastic #here is melancholy

[siliquasquama]

The idea of being all give and no take sounds so tragic and self-sacrificing, but if you can actually pull that off without being completely used up, it's kind of a flex.

So I gotta wonder about the Magical Negro trope, where the sidekick-mentor minority figure gives all they can for the protagonist and asks for nothing in return. Who the hell is this character if they have that much time and influence? Are they trying to solve the conflict of the story through a convenient proxy who can move unimpeded through the ethnic majority? Is every white hetero protagonist of these stories just an earthly catspaw for the complex plans of the godlike Magical Negro?

If you're watching Bruce Almighty, the answer is probably yes. Not sure about any other story.

#magical negro #wise mentor #I have tried to be all give and no take and I think I might actually have been trying to deny myself into a beautifully tragic ruin

[feminismisstillahatemovement]

#the american society of magical negroes

[beardedmrbean]

Imagine getting creamed in almost every metric, including memeability, by morbious.

All kinds of blame going all kinds of directions in the RT's or whatever they're called over there.

Go pick your favs and share with the class.

#american society of magical negros #asomg #fail of fails

[noeljpenaflor]

10 of Cinema’s Most Magical Magical Negros (LINK Below)

Click HERE for the Magical Magic!

#movie #film #movies #films #writing community #writer #writers of tumblr #writers #writers on tumblr #the help #read #reading #the green mile #the matrix #cinemastodon #cinema #magical negro #magical negroes

[black-is-beautiful18]

Y’all need to look up the meaning of satire and trope cuz this is ridiculous 😭. The American Society of Magical Negroes is a satirical film about the magical negro trope often used in media. Satire means that it will be making fun of the trope and even criticizing it. These types of movies/books usually only have one Black character and it often requires said Black character to do heavy lifting for the white character(s). It’s literally what happened in Ghost with Whoopi Goldberg. As much as we might like the movie it’s true. I also have a post about Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa and that trope goes crazy in that book. The Black character most likely will be portrayed to be stereotypical or 50/50 wind up dying, teaching the white character some sort of lesson, and then being forgotten until it’s convenient or completely while the white MC gets some sort of power up and their arc is completed. I promise it’s not gonna hurt you to laugh at how stupid it is. I’m also pretty sure Key & Peele had a skit about this.

#the american society of magical negroes #we’re allowed to be funny and call society stupid y’all #I promise it will be ok #in fact it’s most likely gonna make white people mad 🤷🏾‍♀️ #I’m actually counting on it since they rarely react well to such topics being discussed #stereotypes #tropes #entertainment media #literary media #rhapsodic #laura thalassa #unique writes

[literaryspinster]

Having a Black woman character wear a scarf or bonnet to bed is such a bare minimum ass example of positive rep. Sure it's appreciated, but if you're going to fail in almost every other aspect of her character then please don't pat yourself on the back for something that takes zero effort.

#not every black woman i know wears a scarf to bed including my mom #but they are all real and fleshed out human beings #guess which one is more important #yes i'm thinking about tiny pretty things again because i'll never not be just a little bit angry about that show. #sure she got sidelined in her own story and treated like a magical negro but she wore a scarf to bed so please clap #the tpt account actually posted about how important it was to show neveah in a scarf and then the show proceeded to eff her over