Marking the magical moments

CURRENTLY screening in selected cinemas is The American Society of Magical Negroes (12A). The term “magical negro” was coined to refer to a black character in fiction, who performs acts of service to prop up the storyline and promote success of a white character.

Some obvious examples would be Whoopi Goldberg’s medium Oda Mae Brown in Ghost and Mykelti Williamson’s Bubba in Forrest Gump. It is this trope that writer-director Kobi Libii’s film satirises. Struggling Los Angeles artist Aren (Justice Smith) has a forthcoming solo show cancelled after his latest piece – an untitled sculpture fashioned from Peruvian wool – fails to attract a single bid from collectors.

“If you can’t stick up for your own work, I can’t do it for you,” warns the gallery owner. On the way home, he is falsely accused of theft by a drunk white woman and the barman from the gallery event, Roger (David Alan Grier), rescues Aren from the tense situation. This kind stranger introduces Aren to The American Society Of Magical Negroes run by DeDe (Nicole Byer), which has worked tirelessly behind the scenes throughout history to protect African Americans by shaping white lives.

“We are the vanguard of white relaxation,” explains Roger, who successfully mentors Aren to boost the self-confidence of a shy white police officer (Tim Baltz). A first official posting to lift the gloom of social media high-flyer Jason (Drew Tarver) is compromised when Aren develops feelings for Jason’s coworker Lizzie (An-Li Bogan). The film’s narrative builds to a stirring monologue about belonging.