The American Society of Magical Negroes meme is a satirical concept that has gained popularity in recent years. It refers to the portrayal of African-American characters in literature, film, and other forms of media who possess supernatural or mystical powers and use them to assist white protagonists. The term "magical negro" was coined by film director Spike Lee and later popularized by film critic David Denby. The meme highlights the problematic nature of this common trope, as it often reinforces stereotypes and diminishes the agency of black characters. The magical negro is typically portrayed as wise, selfless, and all-knowing, using their powers to help white characters overcome challenges or achieve their goals. This narrative device not only perpetuates the idea that black individuals exist primarily to serve and support white people but also diminishes their individuality, reducing them to mere plot devices.

The American Society of Magical Negroes

https://www.focusfeatures.com/the-american-society-of-magical-negroes
>The American Society of Magical Negroes is a fresh, satirical comedy about a young man, Aren, who is recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier.

Looks like kino is back on the menu.

There's still going to be a lot of good jokes that come from this I bet. One of the tagliines for the movie is literally "it's magic time"

This anon will be proven right. You COULD make the premise work. But not in this political climate and not without offending people.

So who played Uncle Remus? He has to be the leader right? Also if Briar Rabbit doesn't make a cameo I'm gonna be pissed

>Making white people's lives easier
Now THAT's satire. Also, can black people not do anything without it being about white people?

Seems the intended joke is that black people have to suffer to make whites lives easier not that black people are obsessed with white people as an excuse to blame their failures.

No, I mean the joke is that the Magical Negro archetype is a character which is not allowed to do anything without it being for the benefit of white people

I guess I'd just say that this archetype in no way reflects reality and is probably more an attempt to provide inclusion whilst pandering to minorities reflecting them in a helpful light as opposed to the reality.

>Starring Justice Smith
How does this unfunny, irritating fuck keep getting roles? I have hated him every single time I've ever seen him on screen. DOA

I'm sick of him too. Every one of his deliveries all have the same lifeless energy. He has no range, is boring as fuck, and is ugly to boot.

The worst is that I fucking want a posh parodic magical negro comedy. Fuck, if that is done properly, I think it has the potential of being the best comedy of the year. It has exactly 0 chance of being that given the sheer total lack of self awareness or humor of the producers, but if it was done correctly and properly, it could be a cult classic.

>Magical negroes discussing age old magical and mythological mysteries to crack the magical case with STREET MAGICS

The 'Magical Negro' Trope Makes a Comeback in Two New Movies

Hollywood has a long history of portraying people of color as wise or exoticized figures whose only function is to assuage white guilt.

Eddie Murphy, his partner Paige Butcher (L) and members of his family applaud as he takes his seat for the Mark Twain prize for Humor honoring him at the Kennedy Center in Washington October 18, 2015. JOSHUA ROBERTS / Reuters

The trailer for the upcoming Renee Zellweger film "Same Kind of Different as Me" is generating a lot of buzz — and not just because of the uncomfortable ongoing debate over whether she has surgically altered her appearance — but in part over the presence of what some have called a "magical negro" in the film.

The term, first attributed to director Spike Lee in the early-2000s, refers to films that usually feature a lone, saintly black character in a predominately white universe who, either through supernatural or just plain saccharine means, only serve to enrich the lives of white characters.

Zellweger's film, which ironically comes out during Black History Month next year, is already being widely ridiculed for a plot involving a misunderstood homeless black man (played by actor Djimon Hounsou, no stranger to these types of roles) who helps a well-to-do white couple (played by Zellweger and Greg Kinnear) grow romantically closer and more conscious of class.

This film is arriving around the same time as "Mr. Church" — Eddie Murphy's first big screen role in four years — in which he plays a kindly cook who spends the better part of his life feeding and then financially supporting a white family. Early reviews have suggested that while Murphy turns in a fine performance, the film's racial politics feel like a reactionary step backwards.

"Even 150 years after slavery has ended, white people still feel more comfortable with a black person if they don't have to recognize their full humanity," Jonathan Braylock, an actor and one of the co-hosts of the "Black Men Can't Jump (In Hollywood)" podcast, told NBC News. "This is why films that deal with slavery or films that have a magical negro are the most rewarded by prestigious institutions. They only explore the outer edges of the black experience and refuse to recognize that being black is normal."

Hollywood has a long history of portraying people of color as preternaturally wise or exoticized figures whose only function is to assuage white guilt or make pithy statements about our collective humanity, but in the last few decades there appears to have been an uptick in these sorts of films.

Lee's grumbling about "magical Negroes" came amid a spate of films that included "The Family Man," "The Green Mile," and "The Legend of Bagger Vance," all of which featured black characters with mystical powers that were employed entirely for the benefit of white leads.

"Those movies were kind of horribly accurate reflections of a society dealing the with the ramifications of integration," argues actor Chris Myers, a Juliard-trained, Obie Award winning seven-year veteran of the industry. "Those movies are a reflection of this kind of popular idea that whiteness is standard . benevolent, and it is our job as a society to gravitate towards that center."

"There was this promise of whiteness," he added. "I think even many black people kind of suspected or believed and hoped it was true. The stunning urgency of Black Lives Matter is kind of an affront to that kind of institution."

In recent years, much louder criticism has been lobbed at movies like "The Blind Side" — in which a black character only gets to experience familial life due to the largesse of whites, and he in turn provides "teachable moments" for his benefactors on the issue of race.

That film, like "Mr. Church" and "Same Kind of Different as Me," is loosely based on a true story, but that may offer little comfort to audiences of color who have been clamoring for more and better representation in the wake of the #OscarsSoWhite controversy of earlier this year.

For the last two years, not a single actor of color has been nominated for Hollywood's top honors.

The irony is that films like these often are popular with the Academy Awards. For instance, the late Michael Clarke Duncan was nominated for his role in "The Green Mile," and Sandra Bullock actually took home the Best Actress statuette for her work in "The Blind Side."

In another ironic twist of fate, "Mr. Church" is directed by Bruce Beresford, whose 1989 film "Driving Ms. Daisy" is the Best Picture winner often cited as a hallmark of the "magical negro" genre. Meanwhile, Spike Lee's seminal "Do the Right Thing," released the same year, wasn't even nominated for the top prize.

"Audiences will always go and see what is familiar. Since so many white people do not truly know black families, their only experience of black people is through movies," said Braylock. "So if your experience of a black man is Michael Clark Duncan in 'The Green Mile,' it makes you feel good about yourself for liking black people, even if it's a problematic stereotype. I mean, if I'm on a highway and the only thing I see to eat is McDonalds . hell, I will eat that before Joe Blow's Burger Shack any day because I know what I'm getting when I roll up on those golden arches."

Still, this awards season there will be plenty of alternative takes on the black experience — from Nate Parker's already controversial but acclaimed Nat Turner biopic "The Birth of Nation" to "Hidden Figures," starring Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monae and Octavia Spencer as black women who played a crucial behind the scenes role in the early era of NASA's space program.

Although Myers laments the fact that the top studio executives are still overwhelmingly white and male, or that the Hollywood machine has always prized profits over art, he has reason to believe the business is substantively moving in the right direction on race and that 'magical negro' movies will soon be a relic of the past, if they're aren't already.

"I definitely have a lot of optimism," Myers said. "I believe the 'Black Lives Matter' cry is invariably going to have a number of responses. As [studio executives] continue to make missteps, we on other side will continue to critique them."

He is convinced that "Mr. Church" is going to "bomb," and that "Birth of a Nation," will be "triumphant" if for no other reason because audiences are getting increasingly "fed up" with the mythologizing of "the other." And not just when it comes to race — but in terms of gender and sexual identity, too.

"It's not like these people are intentionally perpetuating these stereotypes," said Myers, "In life we don't often look at 'the other' and understand that their lives are just as complex as ours."

Magical Negro

I impart knowledge and help overcome fears, even in the 21st century.

"The film opens with yet another voice over narration by Morgan Freeman, extolling the saintly virtues of a white person who deserves our reverence."

In order to show the world that minority characters are not bad people, one will step forward to help a "normal" person, with their pure heart and folksy wisdom. They are usually black and/or poor, but may come from another oppressed minority. They step (often clad in a clean, white suit) into the life of the much more privileged (and, in particular, almost always white) central character and, in some way, enrich that central character's life. If the Magical Negro (also known as Magic Negro or Mystical Negro) is from a society of Noble Savages, expect an Anvilicious Aesop about the failings of the protagonist's society — which usually leads to the protagonist "Going Native".

With such deep spiritual wisdom (and sometimes — though not always — actual supernatural powers), you might wonder why the Magical Negro doesn't step up and save the day himself. This will never happen. So enlightened and selfless is he that he has no desire to gain glory for himself; he only wants to help those who need guidance. which just happens to mean those who are traditionally viewed by Hollywood as better suited for protagonist roles, not, say, his own oppressed people. In fact, the Magical Negro really seems to have no goal in life other than helping white people achieve their fullest potential; he may even be ditched or killed outright once he's served that purpose. If he does express any selfish desires, it will only be in the context of helping the white protagonists realize their own racism and thereby become better people.

This can work somewhat as An Aesop about tolerance and not dismissing individuals from underprivileged groups, and it's certainly an improvement on earlier tendencies to either never depict minority characters at all or make them all villains. However, ultimately it's usually a moral and artistic shortcut, replacing a genuine moral message with a well-intentioned but patronizing homage to the special gifts of the meek. Minority characters still all too often aren't portrayed as the heroes of their own stories, but as helpers of standard white, able-bodied, middle-class heroes, and they aren't depicted as, you know, actual people with their own desires, flaws and character arcs, but as mystical, Closer to Earth plot devices.

See also Whoopi Epiphany Speech, Black Best Friend, and Mammy. For a similar trope about women, see Manic Pixie Dream Girl (as well as Disposable Woman and The Bechdel Test); the Magical Girlfriend may play a similar role for her love interest, but is not necessarily an example of this. For the gay version see Magical Queer (who may also be black). The disabled version of this is Inspirationally Disadvantaged. When a non-minority character is portrayed this way, the character is usually a Sidekick Ex Machina. Similar in vein to the Magical Native American, though that trope tends to be more explicitly magical. Also similar to Magical Asian, when an Asian character, often with supernatural abilities, fulfills a mentor role to a white character. Another related trope is White Man's Burden, where the plot is about an ordinary white person who befriends an underprivileged minority character.

The term "Magical Negro" was popularized by Spike Lee during a lecture denouncing this trope.

NOTE ON WRITING EXAMPLES FOR THIS PAGE: Merely having supernatural powers is neither necessary nor sufficient to make a minority character an example of this trope. Simply being a minority character who plays a mentor role is also not sufficient. Think carefully before you add a character to this list just because they're black and serve as a mentor and/or use magic.

This narrative device not only perpetuates the idea that black individuals exist primarily to serve and support white people but also diminishes their individuality, reducing them to mere plot devices. The American Society of Magical Negroes meme serves as a critique of the lack of diverse and well-rounded portrayals of black characters in mainstream media. It draws attention to the tendency to pigeonhole African-American characters into limited and often stereotypical roles.

Contents

• 1 Comic Books
• 2 Film
• 3 Literature
• 4 Live Action TV
• 5 Theater
• 6 Video Games
• 7 Web Comic
• 8 Web Original
• 9 Western Animation

The meme challenges society to consider the impact of such portrayals and the underlying racial biases they perpetuate. While the meme uses humor and satire to address this issue, it raises important questions about representation and the need for more diverse and authentic storytelling. It prompts reflection on the power dynamics embedded within narratives and encourages a reevaluation of the roles black characters play in shaping stories and narratives. In conclusion, the American Society of Magical Negroes meme is a satirical critique of the portrayal of African-American characters in media. It serves as a reminder of the need for more nuanced and authentic representations of black experiences and challenges the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes. This meme encourages a broader discussion about diversity, representation, and the long-standing racial biases within mainstream media..

Reviews for "From Parody to Protest: The Activism Behind the American Society of Magical Negroes Meme"

1. John Smith - 2/5

I found "The American Society of Magical Negroes" meme to be offensive and insensitive. As an African American, I was disappointed to see the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes. The meme trivializes the experiences and struggles of black people by reducing them to mythical beings who exist solely for the benefit of white protagonists. It dismisses the real issues of racism and discrimination that people of color face on a daily basis. It is important for us to move away from these types of simplistic and offensive representations and instead focus on promoting equality and understanding.

2. Sarah Johnson - 1/5

Unfortunately, "The American Society of Magical Negroes" meme misses the mark entirely. It is an insensitive portrayal of African Americans, reducing them to mystical figures without agency or complexity. This meme perpetuates a harmful stereotype that some individuals are "magically" able to solve the problems and provide guidance for white characters. It completely overlooks the rich diversity and humanity within the black community. Rather than celebrating and appreciating the contributions and experiences of African Americans, this meme simply reinforces harmful stereotypes and fails to promote genuine understanding or inclusion.

3. William Thompson - 2/5

"The American Society of Magical Negroes" meme is a disappointing attempt at humor that relies on tired stereotypes and simplistic representations. It lacks nuance and fails to provide any meaningful commentary on race or society. Instead, it perpetuates the harmful notion that black individuals are inherently magical or able to solve the problems of others, which is incredibly reductive and offensive. We should be encouraging dialogue and understanding when it comes to issues of race, rather than resorting to superficial and harmful jokes. This meme falls far short of contributing to a meaningful conversation and serves as a reminder of the work that still needs to be done to combat racial stereotypes.

From Film to Memes: Unpacking the American Society of Magical Negroes Trope in Visual Media