Comments on: An Idiot’s Guide to the Magical Negro http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/ Daily coverage of what is truly interesting in the film world Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:21:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Roderick Bryant http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-136923 Roderick Bryant Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:20:22 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-136923 All I want to know is: why come, whenever there is a movie where the world ends, there is a Black President of the United States? PEACE. All I want to know is: why come, whenever there is a movie where the world ends, there is a Black President of the United States? PEACE.

]]> By: Grist: Barack Obama is not Bagger Vance | Climate Vine http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-133453 Grist: Barack Obama is not Bagger Vance | Climate Vine Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:07:43 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-133453 [...] let me be blunt: Barack Obama is not our magic negro. He’s not Bagger [...] [...] let me be blunt: Barack Obama is not our magic negro. He’s not Bagger [...]

]]> By: gwen http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-126263 gwen Sat, 25 Apr 2009 10:57:12 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-126263 Best example of all... Ernie Hudson in "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle" Magic Negro! Best example of all… Ernie Hudson in “The Hand that Rocks the Cradle”
Magic Negro!

]]> By: ‘Today’ Set Held Hostage By Best Gams In The Business [Short Ends] | Gossip Tube http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-119555 ‘Today’ Set Held Hostage By Best Gams In The Business [Short Ends] | Gossip Tube Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:43:02 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-119555 [...] · Speaking of magical negros, here’s everything you always wanted to know about them but were afraid to ask. · Apple unveils the new Macbook Wheel. Ooh, shiny new toys! We want! We want! · Sad [...] [...] · Speaking of magical negros, here’s everything you always wanted to know about them but were afraid to ask. · Apple unveils the new Macbook Wheel. Ooh, shiny new toys! We want! We want! · Sad [...]

]]> By: doesn't matter http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-119307 doesn't matter Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:11:48 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-119307 Dear John "Lynch"man, First of all, I'm sure the confederate flag on your wall is just splendid! Second of all, I feel really sorry for you. Instead of sticking to your anime, maybe you enjoy watching 200 episodes of the same kick-and-tears story of Bleach, but as the box office shows, most people actually enjoyed watching these movies with your so called "magical negros". I won't even get into why you had to use the word 'negro', because that would make way for me to say that you look like a second generation asian-american, thus frustrated because you're caught between 2 different cultures. I partially agree that Morgan Freeman has become a bit of a typecast, but that still doesn't change how much I enjoyed him in Bruce Almighty. In a comedy about faith (unlike you confederates, I'm neutral to the subject), they chose a different take on 'God'. Why not a funny take on things and why not a black God ? The colour of his skin had nothing to do with the message and if I had a choice between Morgan Freeman - God and Charlton Heston - Moses, I prefer Morgan. This could also be because Freeman doesn't have NRA blood in him. So if you wanna talk about typecast 'magical negros' - how about that Charlton Heston? or this hippy looking, always bearded Jesus ? If your anime brain enjoys watching the same thing over and over, then that's just the way you are, but please don't confuse that with your racism. Did you want to talk about typecasting, or your own personal problem with the fact that some stories have a black actor playing a strong character? Typecasting is a big problem these days, but not the examples you gave, and it's not limited to 'magical negros'. What about all the 'magical crackers' like Adam Sandler, Jack Black, Bruce Willis, Steven Seagal ? Also, in the field of typecasting - in Meet Joe Black, would you have preferred some dude in a black cape playing death? In Dogma, would you have preferred the same old bearded and wise God ? It just so happens that these filmmakers chose a different take on things and color has nothing to do with it. Chris Rock's character in Dogma best sums up your issue: Rufus: 'White folks only want to hear the good shit: life eternal, a place in God's Heaven. But as soon as they hear they're getting this good shit from a black Jesus, they freak. And that, my friends, is called hypocrisy. A black man can steal your stereo, but he can't be your Savior.' Dear John “Lynch”man,

First of all, I’m sure the confederate flag on your wall is just splendid!

Second of all, I feel really sorry for you. Instead of sticking to your anime, maybe you enjoy watching 200 episodes of the same kick-and-tears story of Bleach, but as the box office shows, most people actually enjoyed watching these movies with your so called “magical negros”. I won’t even get into why you had to use the word ‘negro’, because that would make way for me to say that you look like a second generation asian-american, thus frustrated because you’re caught between 2 different cultures.

I partially agree that Morgan Freeman has become a bit of a typecast, but that still doesn’t change how much I enjoyed him in Bruce Almighty. In a comedy about faith (unlike you confederates, I’m neutral to the subject), they chose a different take on ‘God’. Why not a funny take on things and why not a black God ? The colour of his skin had nothing to do with the message and if I had a choice between Morgan Freeman - God and Charlton Heston - Moses, I prefer Morgan. This could also be because Freeman doesn’t have NRA blood in him. So if you wanna talk about typecast ‘magical negros’ - how about that Charlton Heston? or this hippy looking, always bearded Jesus ? If your anime brain enjoys watching the same thing over and over, then that’s just the way you are, but please don’t confuse that with your racism.

Did you want to talk about typecasting, or your own personal problem with the fact that some stories have a black actor playing a strong character? Typecasting is a big problem these days, but not the examples you gave, and it’s not limited to ‘magical negros’. What about all the ‘magical crackers’ like Adam Sandler, Jack Black, Bruce Willis, Steven Seagal ? Also, in the field of typecasting - in Meet Joe Black, would you have preferred some dude in a black cape playing death? In Dogma, would you have preferred the same old bearded and wise God ?
It just so happens that these filmmakers chose a different take on things and color has nothing to do with it.

Chris Rock’s character in Dogma best sums up your issue:

Rufus: ‘White folks only want to hear the good shit: life eternal, a place in God’s Heaven. But as soon as they hear they’re getting this good shit from a black Jesus, they freak. And that, my friends, is called hypocrisy. A black man can steal your stereo, but he can’t be your Savior.’

]]> By: Tom Houseman http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-119248 Tom Houseman Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:49:26 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-119248 What makes The Shawshank Redemption so interesting is that Morgan Freeman isn't a magical negro. You think he is, but actually he's not. What does Freeman teach Robbins in the movie? How to survive in prison, but that's not what the movie is about. The movie is about hope, and Freeman is able to survive because he doesn't have any hope. Robbins still does, which is what makes his time there so difficult, but he teaches Freeman that he can't give up. "Get busy living or get busy dying." SPOILERS: When Brooks is released from prison, he has been so beaten into the ground by the system that he can't survive in the real world, so he kills himself. When Freeman's character is in the same position, he almost does the same thing. But Robbins taught him to embrace life, so instead of killing himself he reinvents himself. Robbins enters Freeman's world, teaches him about hope, and then leaves. Who's the magical character in this story? What makes The Shawshank Redemption so interesting is that Morgan Freeman isn’t a magical negro. You think he is, but actually he’s not.
What does Freeman teach Robbins in the movie? How to survive in prison, but that’s not what the movie is about. The movie is about hope, and Freeman is able to survive because he doesn’t have any hope. Robbins still does, which is what makes his time there so difficult, but he teaches Freeman that he can’t give up. “Get busy living or get busy dying.”
SPOILERS:
When Brooks is released from prison, he has been so beaten into the ground by the system that he can’t survive in the real world, so he kills himself. When Freeman’s character is in the same position, he almost does the same thing. But Robbins taught him to embrace life, so instead of killing himself he reinvents himself. Robbins enters Freeman’s world, teaches him about hope, and then leaves. Who’s the magical character in this story?

]]> By: Marke B. http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-119246 Marke B. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:08:10 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-119246 brilliant list -- you nailed it, ha. and I agree with the comment about the Black Judge for sure! brilliant list — you nailed it, ha. and I agree with the comment about the Black Judge for sure!

]]> By: fezmonkey http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-119240 fezmonkey Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:12:16 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-119240 A nice antidote to Freeman's type casting was his role in the movie Gone Baby Gone. It was the wise man/grandfather, but turned on its head a bit. A nice antidote to Freeman’s type casting was his role in the movie Gone Baby Gone. It was the wise man/grandfather, but turned on its head a bit.

]]> By: Pat http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-119226 Pat Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:43:33 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-119226 I understand the 'magic negro' concept in the Bagger Vance sense, but this article broadens the concept so wide that any movie showing blacks and whites on screen together could be accused of some form of prejudice. Is it patronizing to give a white character a black teacher? Does Spike Lee prefer movies like "Finding Forrester" and "Dangerous minds" where Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer play magic whiteys? What about all those white coach/cop/crusading-lawyer movies , where the disadvantaged African American kid turns his life around thanks to the interest of an angelic white mentor? Would movies be better if their stories were strictly segregated? I understand the ‘magic negro’ concept in the Bagger Vance sense, but this article broadens the concept so wide that any movie showing blacks and whites on screen together could be accused of some form of prejudice. Is it patronizing to give a white character a black teacher? Does Spike Lee prefer movies like “Finding Forrester” and “Dangerous minds” where Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer play magic whiteys? What about all those white coach/cop/crusading-lawyer movies , where the disadvantaged African American kid turns his life around thanks to the interest of an angelic white mentor? Would movies be better if their stories were strictly segregated?

]]> By: vlad http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-119213 vlad Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:02:47 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-119213 What's truly stunning about "Benjamin Button" is that it features not one, not two, but THREE Magic Negroes for the price of one! There's Henson's Mammy-redux, her on-again-off-again-always-kindly-and-wise boyfriend (but not her husband, because poor black people in the 20s were never married, silly!), and the little pygmy man who opens young/old Benji's eyes to all sorts of pleasures, just because he's small too! And all this in a major-studio Oscar contender released in 2008? The mind boggles. What’s truly stunning about “Benjamin Button” is that it features not one, not two, but THREE Magic Negroes for the price of one! There’s Henson’s Mammy-redux, her on-again-off-again-always-kindly-and-wise boyfriend (but not her husband, because poor black people in the 20s were never married, silly!), and the little pygmy man who opens young/old Benji’s eyes to all sorts of pleasures, just because he’s small too! And all this in a major-studio Oscar contender released in 2008? The mind boggles.

]]> By: actionman http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-119212 actionman Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:44:58 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-119212 you lost me when you chided Button. you lost me when you chided Button.

]]> By: ‘Today’ Set Held Hostage By Best Gams In The Business [Short Ends] | Actress Actor Celebrity Blog http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-119210 ‘Today’ Set Held Hostage By Best Gams In The Business [Short Ends] | Actress Actor Celebrity Blog Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:15:58 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-119210 [...] · Speaking of magical negros, here’s everything you always wanted to know about them but were afraid to ask. · Apple unveils the new Macbook Wheel. Ooh, shiny new toys! We want! We want! · Sad [...] [...] · Speaking of magical negros, here’s everything you always wanted to know about them but were afraid to ask. · Apple unveils the new Macbook Wheel. Ooh, shiny new toys! We want! We want! · Sad [...]

]]> By: Peter Debruge http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-119209 Peter Debruge Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:50:12 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-119209 My least favorite example would be Djimon Hounsou as the AIDS-stricken next-door neighbor in Jim Sheridan's inexplicably acclaimed In America. My least favorite example would be Djimon Hounsou as the AIDS-stricken next-door neighbor in Jim Sheridan’s inexplicably acclaimed In America.

]]> By: R. Conquest http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-119205 R. Conquest Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:25:11 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-119205 I think the Magic Negro is more related to the Black Judge than people realize, too. (At one point in the late 80s and 90s, all judges on film were black, and in fact were often Morgan Freeman.) In both cases you have a kind of disinterested higher-than-human figure whose job it is not to play a personal role in the proceedings, but to dispense wisdom and guide lesser mortals to do the right thing. I think the Magic Negro is more related to the Black Judge than people realize, too. (At one point in the late 80s and 90s, all judges on film were black, and in fact were often Morgan Freeman.) In both cases you have a kind of disinterested higher-than-human figure whose job it is not to play a personal role in the proceedings, but to dispense wisdom and guide lesser mortals to do the right thing.

]]> By: Marilyn http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-119204 Marilyn Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:06:22 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-119204 At the risk of being attacked as racist, I have to say that there is a basis in Jungian psychology for the magic negro as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_(psychology)" rel="nofollow">shadow</a> archetype. At the risk of being attacked as racist, I have to say that there is a basis in Jungian psychology for the magic negro as the shadow archetype.

]]> By: white bread http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-119202 white bread Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:38:11 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-119202 You've forgotten about the hard (or impossible) to kill immortal black super hero, who because of his blackness is special and set apart from white super heroes. He will almost always have a white antagonist, or at a minimum a white sidekick. Examples are Will Smith as Hancock, Wesley Snipes as Blade, the super charred and burnt negro guy from Spawn. I suppose blockbuster franchises like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings are probably stories crafted by biggots because they have no black folks in them at all. When's the last time you heard a brother arguing with Hermoine Granger about how they pronounce Wingad Leviosa to make shit fly off the table in the hood? You’ve forgotten about the hard (or impossible) to kill immortal black super hero, who because of his blackness is special and set apart from white super heroes. He will almost always have a white antagonist, or at a minimum a white sidekick. Examples are Will Smith as Hancock, Wesley Snipes as Blade, the super charred and burnt negro guy from Spawn. I suppose blockbuster franchises like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings are probably stories crafted by biggots because they have no black folks in them at all. When’s the last time you heard a brother arguing with Hermoine Granger about how they pronounce Wingad Leviosa to make shit fly off the table in the hood?

]]> By: Rick http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-119199 Rick Tue, 06 Jan 2009 09:00:19 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-119199 Pretentious as always god forbid our friends at spoutblog enjoy anything the mainstream pumps out. Pretentious as always god forbid our friends at spoutblog enjoy anything the mainstream pumps out.

]]> By: aaron g http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-119189 aaron g Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:58:34 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-119189 i think we should take the example from the mumblecore crowd and just cast imaginary black actors as the role of the imaginary black friend of the open-minded, white liberal protagonist. the imaginary black friend might not be *seen,* but his presence will be felt, with references to barack obama, tv on the radio, kanye, etc. i think we should take the example from the mumblecore crowd and just cast imaginary black actors as the role of the imaginary black friend of the open-minded, white liberal protagonist. the imaginary black friend might not be *seen,* but his presence will be felt, with references to barack obama, tv on the radio, kanye, etc.

]]> By: Damon http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/05/an-idiots-guide-to-the-magical-negro/#comment-119180 Damon Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:35:03 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=8778#comment-119180 Bagger Vance is even worse as the metaphorical "swing" Matt Damon's character must get back is an obvious stand-in for erectile disfunction. Bagger Vance is even worse as the metaphorical “swing” Matt Damon’s character must get back is an obvious stand-in for erectile disfunction.

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