What’s the most dangerous animal on the planet? White people.
For centuries, there has been a society hidden in plain sight, working in secret to protect Black people from harm. It’s called The American Society of Magical Negroes.
Justice Smith stars as Aren, a failing Black artist. Roger, played by David Alan Grier, notices how Aren interacts with white people and introduces him to a secret organization that attempts to make white people more comfortable.
The term “magical negro” describes Black characters in films that only exist to aid white protagonists. This trope can be seen in films such as The Legend of Bagger Vance, The Green Mile, and many others, as this cliché is one of the most popular in films that include an honorary Black person.
In The American Society of Magical Negroes, writer-director Kobi Libii attempts to parody this concept. Yet, despite the wonder and fantasy the film opens with, the film doesn’t take a revolutionary stance, or continue to lampoon the idea of the “magical negro.”
Although Aren faces many conflicts—should he keep his white client happy or do what’s best for himself—the film strays from it’s satirical beginnings into a romcom about an interracial relationship, in spite of the “magical negro” trope.
Justice Smith and David Alan Grier give us star performances in this satire that opens in theaters March 22, 2024.
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