The “magical negro” is a trope in fiction that depicts a selfless and non-threatening black supporting character who helps the white protagonist with their problems. The American Society of Magical Negroes is a comedy film that satirizes this trope and imagines a secret society of magical black people.
This film comes at just the right time. People are nostalgic for Harry Potter and feel-good romantic comedies like 100 Days of Summer, but are also open to social satire. There appears to be a wave of clever and timely comedy films from a black perspective, including The Book of Clarence and American Fiction.
Predictably, there are many (predominantly white) YouTubers that are quick to label a satire exploring race as racist. It’s worth noting that both Get Out and Django Unchained were accused of being racist when they first debuted and are now considered groundbreaking genre classics. If The American Society of Magical Negroes makes people uncomfortable, then that’s all the more reason to watch it.
The American Society of Magical Negroes will reach theaters March 22.
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