Last week, the trailer for the upcoming film “The American Society of Magical Negroes” was released, and many Black and white folks were confused about whom the film’s audience is supposed to be.
Many thought the “The American Society of Magical Negroes” was going to give a glimpse of Black folks doing magic tricks and teleporting, ala Harry Potter. What folks saw instead was seemingly a snippet of satire and a taste of a well-known literary and film trope that unfortunately didn’t translate well to viewers online.
For context, the Kobi Libii-directed film centers around a young man, Aren (played by Justice Smith), who is recruited into a secret society of magical Black “negroes” who dedicate their lives to a cause of utmost importance: making white people’s lives easier so that Black people will be safer.
If this sounds a bit off, it’s because “The American Society of Magical Negroes” leans heavily into the “magical negro” story trope—which is defined as a Black character whose sole purpose in any story or plot is to “help white people achieve their fullest potential.” And while the film on its surface seems to go in that direction, the disconnect for folks online seemed to hinged around the interracial romantic element presented.
Some felt it alludes to the fact that the protagonist may not be bucking against the system solely because of any internal or communal loyalty or desire for change —but instead just to get the (white-passing) girl, which doesn’t do well to subvert the trope in and of itself or properly illustrate the genre according to Twitter:
“Here I thought The American Society of Magical Negroes was gonna be smart, satirical, social commentary about the magical negro trope and Black-white power dynamics in social settings. But no, it’s an interracial rom com,” wrote one X user.
Another added: “Just saw the trailer for The American Society of Magical Negroes… a movie about Black people dedicated to making white peoples lives easier, and then the main character falls in lust with a white woman.”
“I keep seeing a lot of ‘y’all need to read what magical negro means! Y’all don’t get satire?!?’ I think we get those things…that doesn’t change the fact that The American Society Of Magical Negroes doesn’t look great based on the information given to us,” explained another.
Even some, obviously bias, white folks got up in arms about the trailer (which doesn’t really hold much wait considering so many of them lately seem determined to terrorize us in our own homes—especially in South Carolina).
“Trailer for The American Society Of Magical Negroes is finally here. Amazing that even in an anti-white propaganda film the black protagonist’s highest aspiration is to win a white woman,” said one X user.
Another chimed in with, “The American Society of Magical Negroes. And the woke insanity continues.”
The only insanity would be to completely write the film off said many who defended the trailer and added more context to why the “Magical Negroes” is an important story to tell.
“’The American Society of Magical Negroes’ is intended to be satire. Written and directed by a comedian/actor. The very intent of satire is to garner this kind of reaction and play on people’s own stupidity via exaggeration etc. so I guess they are already doing the job,” wrote one user.
“For clarity, the ‘American Society Of Magical Negroes’ has a queer Black lead, an Asian costar, a supporting cast of legendary Black actors, and was written/directed by a Black person. This is just to weed out the uninformed & clickbaity takes I keep seeing,” added another.
Will you be watching “The American Society of Magical Negroes” when it hits theaters? The film is set to make it’s debut at Sundance Film Festival 2024.