The Case of Courage as a Magical Negro

A brief review of The American Society of Magical Negroes

No matter the space, Blackness is typically at the forefront whereas Black people are pushed to the background. In The American Society of Magical Negroes, dual consciousness is analyzed by using racial ambiguity as a means to understand how space is manipulated for the comfort of white people. A few questions circled through my mind: 

With being white-passing, how does one take advantage of their privilege while also reminding the world of their Blackness?

Who’s responsibility is it, really, to make white people feel… comfortable? And how much does it cost to maintain?

I understood Justice Smith’s character– the longing to find the bass in your voice without sounding aggressive or brash. The desire to be accepted into an arena that doesn’t want you to be a competitor but a culturally-aware, cheerleading spectator. To see his character slowly remove his mask by investigating his “mentor”, the incomparable David Alan Grier, and finding the right pickup line for his right-hand woman, An-Li Bogan, is refreshing to witness in an America where Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are fighting to stay alive. Though there are slow moments that could’ve been cut to move the story faster, the film shows the results of finding the right thread that ties your world together. 

The American Society of Magical Negroes is a journey to find the courage to say exactly what you mean– regardless of who needs to hear it.