December 19, 2023
‘The American Society Of Magical Negroes’ Criticized By Black And White Viewers
The trailer for "The American Society of Magical Negroes" has drawn fire from white and Black audiences.
The official trailer for Kobi Libii’s The American Society of Magical Negroes released last week and has been under fire from white and Black audiences who are taking offense to the film’s race-based satire.
The movie’s release is slated for March 2024.
Starring Justice Smith, David Alan Grier, and Rupert Friend, the film tells the story of a young man (Smith) who gets recruited into a secret society of magical Black people who dedicate their lives to making white people’s lives easier because according to the trailer, “uncomfortable white people are the most “dangerous animals on the planet.”
“White people feeling uncomfortable precedes a lot of bad stuff for us,” Grier’s character tells Smith’s character, Aren. “That’s why we fight white discomfort every day. Because the happier they are, the safer we are!”
The new film serves as a satire around the trope of the Magical Negro, role seen throughout historical American cinema where the Black character’s sole purpose was to serve a white character. But amid the release of the trailer, many are speaking out.
White viewers were offended by the blatant racist jokes against them while Black viewers were disappointed in the film not serving as a “Black Harry Potter” like many thought it would and instead displays a rom-com theme where Smith’s character works to win the affection of a white woman played by An-Li Bogan.
“This is the most blatant Anti-White, Racist thing I have ever seen!” one Twitter/X user wrote. “This is open unapologetic Hate Speech against White People!”
Black viewers also shared disapproval for the new film, but for different reasons.
“I was so excited this was going to be HBCU HOGWARTS but then to center being magical around making yt people happy??? It could’ve been great.” one user wrote.
“No, how do we as a community get this film cancelled?” said another viewer.
“OMG the trailer started off so well till the love interest?!” added someone else. “And black people knowing magick but choose to use their powers to make white people happy instead of the world a better place LMFAO yeah no thanks.”
Some are still expressing interest in watching the satirical film’s focus on the Magical Negro trope. The trailer can’t reveal everything about the movie. It’s only to spark interest which from the looks of it, mission accomplished.
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