The Blind Side: Whites saving the poor ignorant negro..again

[LEs Stroud]

I love Sandra Bullock, but I'm getting sick of these stories where whites are depicted as saving black folks

In my opinion this futher gives blacks an excuse to wait for white folks to give them a break instead of making their own way. Blacks here in philly have given up and movies like this dont uplift but further the systemic dependence we have on whites and their system of charity disguised as a job.

This includes taking menial jobs like customer service (a black women's favourite for some reason and I dont know why), bus drivers, po officers and other jobs that keep you just above broke

So, as a result of this the only way blacks see making it is through sports or entertainment. I call this numberless lotto syndrome. They work menial jobs while pursing unrealistic goals

But here in Philly they pretty much shoot each other and rob hard working blacks of their quality of life.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0878804/


SOL for life cuz BGOL should still be free like HNIC promised

 

[TMNTnigg]

I love Sandra Bullock, but I'm getting sick of these stories where whites are depicted as saving black folks

In my opinion this futher gives blacks an excuse to wait for white folks to give them a break instead of making their own way. Blacks here in philly have given up and movies like this dont uplift but further the systemic dependence we have on whites and their system of charity disguised as a job.

This includes taking menial jobs like customer service (a black women's favourite for some reason and I dont know why), bus drivers, po officers and other jobs that keep you just above broke

So, as a result of this the only way blacks see making it is through sports or entertainment. I call this numberless lotto syndrome. They work menial jobs while pursing unrealistic goals

But here in Philly they pretty much shoot each other and rob hard working blacks of their quality of life.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0878804/


SOL for life cuz BGOL should still be free like HNIC promised

I feel what you are saying, but on the flip side we cant put ourselves in situations destined to fail....like not going to school, drug and alcohol addictions, wedlock, etc.....

ACCOUNTABILITY...although their were atrocites done to our people...that 'white man this, and white man that...' got old fast

UR ATTITUDE DICTATES UR ALTITUDE...its a cliche but sooo true

 

[Blunt]

It's a compelling true story. This white family DID literally save "the poor, abandoned, illiterate negro." Turned his life into an inspirational success story. Can't ignore it. Sorry.

(Nothing's stopping black families from doing likewise, and those stories are told all the time too.)

 

[GentlemanPlayer]

I'll read the book first. And I watch him every Sunday as he plays for the Ravens.

Micheal Oher's story is a tough one, but it's good to see that overcame his situation.

 

[LoneStar29]

"The Blind Side: Whites saving the poor ignorant negro"

Sounds like your sex life @ the OP

 

[thoughtone]

"The Blind Side: Whites saving the poor ignorant negro"

Sounds like your sex life @ the OP

 

[sean69]

This isn't new in Hollywood. I can list at least 50 like "Magical Negro" "white redemption" themed movies.

I feel what you are saying, but on the flip side we cant put ourselves in situations destined to fail...like not going to school, drug and alcohol addictions, wedlock, etc.....

ACCOUNTABILITY...although their were atrocites done to our people...that 'white man this, and white man that...' got old fast

UR ATTITUDE DICTATES UR ALTITUDE...its a cliche but sooo true

"...we cant put ourselves in situations destined to fail"

^^^ What an ambiguous and soothingly torpid statement. Typical quasi-bourgeois apathy.

You should go watch that Time Wise lecture about white privilege.

And as for that cliche garbage ... LOL ... go watch that clip someone posted of Dave Chapelle's return where he's does a standup bit about having a positive attitude. LOL.

It's a compelling true story. This white family DID literally save "the poor, abandoned, illiterate negro." Turned his life into an inspirational success story. Can't ignore it. Sorry.

(Nothing's stopping black families from doing likewise, and those stories are told all the time too.)

Some how I knew you'd be on cue with in this thread. LOL.

Compelling story huh? And what exactly does it compel one to do?

 

[Mo-Better]

I don't think many of us today are looking to whites to help us out of your dilemmas. Not any more but don't forget Hollywood is making feel good movies where the happy ending is about the white hero. These movies are not produced for our enjoyment. Truthfully these same movies just happen to have blacks in them to increase ticket sales.

Don't get me wrong I'm tired of it too.

 

[sean69]

I don't think many of us today are looking to whites to help us out of your dilemmas. Not any more but don't forget Hollywood is making feel good movies where the happy ending is about the white hero. These movies are not produced for our enjoyment. Truthfully these same movies just happen to have blacks in them to increase ticket sales.

Don't get me wrong I'm tired of it too.

Nah Deuce. I don't think it's just simply about increasing ticket sales. Black people don't just flock to movies because there happens to be a black token it the cast. If so Spike Lee a would be a gazillionaire.

Nah, this is just another typical movie which is in the end, like you said, about the white hero/heroine and/or their redemptions courtesy of the magical negroe.

 

[Blunt]

Compelling story huh? And what exactly does it compel one to do?

Not give up on presumed societal rejects. Duh!!!!!!

 

[sean69]

Not give up on presumed societal rejects. Duh!!!!!!

We haven't given up on you.

 

[Mo-Better]

Nah Deuce. I don't think it's just simply about increasing ticket sales. Black people don't just flock to movies because there happens to be a black token it the cast. If so Spike Lee a would be a gazillionaire.

Nah, this is just another typical movie which is in the end, like you said, about the white hero/heroine and/or their redemptions courtesy of the magical negroe.

You could be right but take a movie like "A Time to Kill." Samuel Jackson's roll "and family" could've been played by a white actor(s). But either way your right about how often its the white hero on the white horse coming to the rescue.

 

[Blunt]

We haven't given up on you.

I wish I could say the same about you.

 

[Blunt]

You could be right but take a movie like "A Time to Kill." Samuel Jackson's roll "and family" could've been played by a white actor(s).

Huh??? How would that make any sense when the novel and film were specifically about Southern anti-black racism.

But either way your right about how often its the white hero on the white horse coming to the rescue.

Unless the film stars Denzel Washington or Will Smith.

 

[sean69]

Huh??? How would that make any sense when the novel and film were specifically about Southern anti-black racism.

Unless the film stars Denzel Washington or Will Smith.

Every movie that Denzel and Will have stared in, they've been magical negros. LOL. Every one.

 

[LEs Stroud]

Every movie that Denzel and Will have stared in, they've been magical negros. LOL. Every one.

The problem is white people generally, well mostly think they are superior to African Americans. This translates into the lack of movies (block buster movies) featuring a predominatly black cast.

It hurts our ticket sales and decreases opportunity for black leading actors, black stories and black romantic comedies. Whites are comfortable when they appear to be the Savior of minorities. Now is this attributed to white guilt or their superiority complex? Point is the cause and effect are the same.

 

[Blunt]

Every movie that Denzel and Will have stared in, they've been magical negros. LOL. Every one.

I think you're confused about the phrase. (Not surprisingly.)

 

[sean69]

I think you're confused about the phrase. (Not surprisingly.)

What phrase?

 

[Cleopatra_J]

Agreed ... there are enough white savior movies to last a lifetime, but they aren't going anywhere ...If one more white person saves black kids by making them dance I'm gonna

this story ... when I interned @ CNN they interview the mom & dad and I had to transcribe it. They really do care about Oher and his story is something you don't hear often. His story is definitely different and encouraging for people to shed their stereotypes and not give up on people...

 

[Blunt]

...If one more white person saves black kids by making them dance I'm gonna

More like vice-versa.

 

[Blunt]

What phrase?

"Magical Negro."

That term refers to the likes of "John Coffey" (i.e., Jesus Christ) in The Green Mile or Will Smith in Bagger Vance. One-dimnensional, SAINTLY black characters who only exist to transform white people's lives. I don't think Denzel has ever been guilty of playing those types of roles. Neither has Sam Jackson or Jeffrey Wright, ...etc. That's a type of character that's been represented by all groups who've been marginalized on-screen at one time or another, whether black, Asian (that's been going on forever and still is) or now gay.

 

[sean69]

"Magical Negro."

That term refers to the likes of "John Coffey" (i.e., Jesus Christ) in The Green Mile or Will Smith in Bagger Vance. One-dimnensional, SAINTLY black characters who only exist to transform white people's lives. I don't think Denzel has ever been guilty of playing those types of roles. Neither has Sam Jackson or Jeffrey Wright, ...etc. That's a type of character that's been represented by all groups who've been marginalized on-screen at one time or another, whether black, Asian (that's been going on forever and still is) or now gay.

^^^Duhh

Nope. Not confused. On a basic low resolution crude level, you're right but you're missing out some other key characteristics of a magical negro. Not only does said black character transform an individual white character's life via an atypical black-white relationship dynamic, they can also help (white) society as a whole or a group find redemption. The black audience leaves with a sense of pride; "yeah, we can save shit too!"; white audience leaves with a sense of quelled "white guilt" "awww, black people can do it too when we give them a chance".

Theses roles are cleverly disguised (I'm inclined to believe it's deliberate just based on the frequency, pattern and trend) with a lead black actor playing an unconventional or superhuman role where he typically sacrifices something at the end or dies - which is essential to tying everything together.

Some examples:


The super mart scientist: Will Smith in I Am Legend
The smart law enforcement agent: Denzel Washington in The Bone Collector, though not the lead, Morgan Freeman in Seven
The blatantly immortal super hero: Will Smith in Hancock


Other mentions:

Denzel in John Q (classic magical negro role), in Crimson Tide and the Siege (essentially the same theme), Man on Fire (Creasy is a one-dimensional character who, martyrs himself for the redemption of Dakota Fanning)

 

[doggish_098]

^^^Duhh

Nope. Not confused. On a basic low resolution crude level, you're right but you're missing out some other key characteristics of a magical negro. Not only does said black character transform an individual white character's life via an atypical black-white relationship dynamic, they can also help (white) society as a whole or a group find redemption. The black audience leaves with a sense of pride; "yeah, we can save shit too!"; white audience leaves with a sense of quelled "white guilt" "awww, black people can do it too when we give them a chance".

Theses roles are cleverly disguised (I'm inclined to believe it's deliberate just based on the frequency, pattern and trend) with a lead black actor playing an unconventional or superhuman role where he typically sacrifices something at the end or dies - which is essential to tying everything together.

Some examples:


The super mart scientist: Will Smith in I Am Legend
The smart law enforcement agent: Denzel Washington in The Bone Collector, though not the lead, Morgan Freeman in Seven
The blatantly immortal super hero: Will Smith in Hancock


Other mentions:

Denzel in John Q (classic magical negro role), in Crimson Tide and the Siege (essentially the same theme), Man on Fire (Creasy is a one-dimensional character who, martyrs himself for the redemption of Dakota Fanning)

Man on Fire doesnt count in the original movie the Creasy character was white

 

[sean69]

Man on Fire doesnt count in the original movie the Creasy character was white

OK, but I'm talking about the movie with Denzel.

 

[followup]

Just saw the preview for this film today, and I will see the film when it comes out. Contrary to popular black folklore, all white people are not evil. Plus, how can you be mad at someone helping a young boy out of a miserable life? If he was really walking home in the cold with no coat and had never slept on a bed IN THE U.S....

 

[Cleopatra_J]

Just saw the preview for this film today, and I will see the film when it comes out. Contrary to popular black folklore, all white people are not evil. Plus, how can you be mad at someone helping a young boy out of a miserable life? If he was really walking home in the cold with no coat and had never slept on a bed IN THE U.S....

exactly!! But if he was African, and a celebrity adopted him, it'd be front page news!

 

[sean69]

Just saw the preview for this film today, and I will see the film when it comes out. Contrary to popular black folklore, all white people are not evil. Plus, how can you be mad at someone helping a young boy out of a miserable life? If he was really walking home in the cold with no coat and had never slept on a bed IN THE U.S....

exactly!! But if he was African, and a celebrity adopted him, it'd be front page news!

Nobody said all white people are the devil.
Superlative ... hyperbole ... missing the point like a mf ...

 

[followup]

Nobody said all white people are the devil.
Superlative ... hyperbole ... missing the point like a mf ...

was not addressed to you Try reading the OP's posts and then you will figure out the nature of my comment.