deerstalker
While scrolling through social media, I came across an interview with the cast of American Fiction. It is a comedy-drama film directed by Cord Jefferson about a novelist named Monk who is frustrated with the entertainment industry and capitalizes on the offensive Black tropes. He ends up writing a book that showcases these issues but ends up going down a road of hypocrisy and confusion.
During the Around the Table interview by Entertainment Weekly, with Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Sterling K. Brown, and Erika Alexander, the cast discussed the movie and the importance of rewriting Black stereotypes. They shared personal stories of times when they had to endure or speak up against scripts that always assign offensive language to Black characters.
They admitted during the interview that speaking out would often get them labeled as being difficult.
This interview got me thinking about the roles Black people have taken on over the years. As a result of my pondering, here is a second look at the progression of Black actors through film history. Let’s look at where Black actors have been, what they achieved, and how far they must go for accurate representation.
A Brief History of Black People’s Roles in Film and Television
Black people have long been a part of the TV and film industry. Ethel Waters was the first Black person on TV when she hosted her own show on NBC on June 14, 1939. Then, in 1950, Waters made history as the first African American to star in a TV show, Beulah.
Waters played Beulah, the maid serving a white family, who always got the family out of trouble. Waters remained in the role for about one year. After she left the show, it continued with other Black actresses, such as Hattie McDaniel and Louise Beavers, who took her place. Since the servant-type role continued, it followed and perhaps haunted Black actors for future films and movies.
Here are some other Black stereotypical roles that have been prominent in film and television over the years.
The Domestic Role: Portrays Black people as the help, the maid, the domestic worker, the caretaker, or the mammy. It may seem innocent, but it continues the narrative that Black people belong in roles of servitude.
The Thug Role: Perpetuates the stereotype that Black men are dangerous. This role portrays mainly Black men as drug dealers, pimps, con artists, or other law-breaking personalities. While these roles are fiction and don’t represent every Black man, it has contributed to the misconception that Black men should be feared.
The Magical Negro: A slightly better portrayal of Black men but still harmful. It is a role in which the Black men have special powers or abilities they use to help or save their white co-star. This type of role tells a story of a Black man potentially sacrificing himself to save his white friend. While some may see this as an honorary role, it gives into a slave mentality that Black people are only here to serve. It also dehumanizes Black people by making their suffering seem insignificant.
The Black Best Friend: Mirrors the Magical Negro character. I noticed this role in The Queen’s Gambit. It’s a great movie, by the way. Still, when the main character (a talented but frail white woman) was in trouble, guess who was there to lend a helping hand and a good amount of cash? You guessed it: Jolene, the Black best friend, played by Moses Ingram. These stereotypes position Black women as the support system and showcase Black women putting their needs aside to help out those who refuse to help themselves.
The Angry Black Woman: One of the most consistent and inaccurate portrayals of Black women. Movies and TV shows often showcase Black women as loud, aggressive, ghetto, problematic, and the most dramatic, which can sometimes increase show ratings. Because of the repetitive nature of this role, Black women in real life often get labeled as difficult or problematic when they are sticking up for themselves or involved in everyday interactions.
Identifying these stereotypes is not to say that Black people can never play these roles. If Black people hadn’t taken these roles, they might not have broken into the film industry. However, what is crucial is an evolution from these roles.
Empowering and Uplifting Roles Throughout the Years
Despite the previously mentioned stereotypes, roles have shifted throughout the years. One great example is Eartha Kitt, the singer and actor who played the well-known villain Catwoman in the 1960 series Batman. Kitt was the first Black entertainer to act in a comic-book-based role.
NBC’s Saturday Night Live has played a crucial role in advancing the careers of Black comedians such as Eddie Murphy, Leslie Jones, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and many others.
Living Single (also known as the original Friends) was one of the first shows to showcase positive representations of Black culture and people. The show helped pave the way for even more impactful shows, such as Insecure, Abbott Elementary, Pose, and many more.
Even in the film industry, there have been significant changes, such as Disney having a Black princess, introducing Afro-Latinos in the movie Encanto, and, of course, a Black little mermaid.
Outside of animation, I enjoyed seeing the first Black Captain America.
With more melanin on the TV and the big screen, one can not deny the progress of Black entertainers. However, it’s important to note that their progress must continue. Since there have been generations that grew up with these Black stereotypes, those ideas linger in many people’s perceptions. Thus, a few movies and shows with accurate representations can’t completely undo the damage of previous stereotypes.
Something I’ve personally learned, having traveled to different countries, is that many cultures that don’t have interactions or experiences with Black people learn a lot about our culture through movies. More representation in the entertainment industry means communicating that Black people are multi-faceted.
While scrolling through social media, I came across an interview with the cast of American Fiction. It is a comedy-drama film directed by Cord Jefferson about a novelist named Monk who is frustrated with the entertainment industry and capitalizes on the offensive Black tropes. He ends up writing a book that showcases these issues but ends up going down a road of hypocrisy and confusion.
During the Around the Table interview by Entertainment Weekly, with Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, Sterling K. Brown, and Erika Alexander, the cast discussed the movie and the importance of rewriting Black stereotypes. They shared personal stories of times when they had to endure or speak up against scripts that always assign offensive language to Black characters.
They admitted during the interview that speaking out would often get them labeled as being difficult.
This interview got me thinking about the roles Black people have taken on over the years. As a result of my pondering, here is a second look at the progression of Black actors through film history. Let’s look at where Black actors have been, what they achieved, and how far they must go for accurate representation.
A Brief History of Black People’s Roles in Film and Television
Black people have long been a part of the TV and film industry. Ethel Waters was the first Black person on TV when she hosted her own show on NBC on June 14, 1939. Then, in 1950, Waters made history as the first African American to star in a TV show, Beulah.
Waters played Beulah, the maid serving a white family, who always got the family out of trouble. Waters remained in the role for about one year. After she left the show, it continued with other Black actresses, such as Hattie McDaniel and Louise Beavers, who took her place. Since the servant-type role continued, it followed and perhaps haunted Black actors for future films and movies.
Here are some other Black stereotypical roles that have been prominent in film and television over the years.
The Domestic Role: Portrays Black people as the help, the maid, the domestic worker, the caretaker, or the mammy. It may seem innocent, but it continues the narrative that Black people belong in roles of servitude.
The Thug Role: Perpetuates the stereotype that Black men are dangerous. This role portrays mainly Black men as drug dealers, pimps, con artists, or other law-breaking personalities. While these roles are fiction and don’t represent every Black man, it has contributed to the misconception that Black men should be feared.
The Magical Negro: A slightly better portrayal of Black men but still harmful. It is a role in which the Black men have special powers or abilities they use to help or save their white co-star. This type of role tells a story of a Black man potentially sacrificing himself to save his white friend. While some may see this as an honorary role, it gives into a slave mentality that Black people are only here to serve. It also dehumanizes Black people by making their suffering seem insignificant.
The Black Best Friend: Mirrors the Magical Negro character. I noticed this role in The Queen’s Gambit. It’s a great movie, by the way. Still, when the main character (a talented but frail white woman) was in trouble, guess who was there to lend a helping hand and a good amount of cash? You guessed it: Jolene, the Black best friend, played by Moses Ingram. These stereotypes position Black women as the support system and showcase Black women putting their needs aside to help out those who refuse to help themselves.
The Angry Black Woman: One of the most consistent and inaccurate portrayals of Black women. Movies and TV shows often showcase Black women as loud, aggressive, ghetto, problematic, and the most dramatic, which can sometimes increase show ratings. Because of the repetitive nature of this role, Black women in real life often get labeled as difficult or problematic when they are sticking up for themselves or involved in everyday interactions.
Identifying these stereotypes is not to say that Black people can never play these roles. If Black people hadn’t taken these roles, they might not have broken into the film industry. However, what is crucial is an evolution from these roles.
Empowering and Uplifting Roles Throughout the Years
Despite the previously mentioned stereotypes, roles have shifted throughout the years. One great example is Eartha Kitt, the singer and actor who played the well-known villain Catwoman in the 1960 series Batman. Kitt was the first Black entertainer to act in a comic-book-based role.
NBC’s Saturday Night Live has played a crucial role in advancing the careers of Black comedians such as Eddie Murphy, Leslie Jones, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and many others.
Living Single (also known as the original Friends) was one of the first shows to showcase positive representations of Black culture and people. The show helped pave the way for even more impactful shows, such as Insecure, Abbott Elementary, Pose, and many more.
Even in the film industry, there have been significant changes, such as Disney having a Black princess, introducing Afro-Latinos in the movie Encanto, and, of course, a Black little mermaid.
Outside of animation, I enjoyed seeing the first Black Captain America.
With more melanin on the TV and the big screen, one can not deny the progress of Black entertainers. However, it’s important to note that their progress must continue. Since there have been generations that grew up with these Black stereotypes, those ideas linger in many people’s perceptions. Thus, a few movies and shows with accurate representations can’t completely undo the damage of previous stereotypes.
Something I’ve personally learned, having traveled to different countries, is that many cultures that don’t have interactions or experiences with Black people learn a lot about our culture through movies. More representation in the entertainment industry means communicating that Black people are multi-faceted.
Get ready to celebrate Avatar: The Last Airbender (ATLA) with the help of its cutest creatures. Just in time for Netflix’s live-action series, Youtooz is releasing a brand new line of Avatar merchandise starring everyone’s favorite critters, Appa and Momo. This new ATLA release brings us an Appa mug and a fuzzy assortment of Appas and Momos you won’t be able to resist snuggling. After all, you can’t go on a quest without your best companions. The new Youtooz Avatar: The Last Airbender collection arrives on February 22. And we have an early look at what’s in store.
New Appa and Momo Plushes Arrive to Youtooz’s Avatar: The Last Airbender Collection
Youtooz’s new Avatar: The Last Airbender collection kicks off with what we all need in our lives, more Appa and Momo plushes. The Youtooz line offers us two new fluffy versions of the iconic creatures as part of their “shoulder riders” collection. That means these Appa and Momo plushes are perfectly designed, you guessed it, to sit on your shoulder. Momo naturally belongs on a shoulder. But Appa probably doesn’t get to ride around on others that much. So we’re glad he’ll get his time to relax in this Youtooz form.
A release from Youtooz shares more about these Avatar plushes, noting the Appa and Momo plushes are “made of a mixture of minky and faux fur materials, packed to the seams with the most huggable squishy 100% PP cotton, and come equipped with a magnetic disc to let them perch firmly atop your shoulder as the best accessory and a true testament to your love of the fandom!” As a note, Appa is six inches long, while Momo is six inches tall. There’s something really adorable about that in our eyes. We bet Momo has never felt more fearsome.
Appa and Momo Join Youtooz’s Magnetic Stickies Line
In addition to their shoulder rider plush form, Appa and Momo are also joining Youtooz’s line of magnetic stickies. What are magnetic stickies, you ask? Well, they’re small plushes that harness the power of four magnets to ensure you can stick your favorite fuzzy friends just about anywhere. And for creatures like Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s Appa and Momo, adding a magnetic element gives these plushes a fun infusion of life. The creative fan will definitely be able to rig these stickies up like they’re actually flying around. Appa isn’t a sitting bison, after all.
Youtooz will introduce four magnetic stickie plushes in their new Avatar line: two Appas and two Momos. As far as Appa goes, you can snag a normal Appa or an Appa with a tongue blep. I mean, we all need Appa doing a tongue blep; he’s just too cute. And he doesn’t come with any of the damp side effects that getting licked by the real Appa would leave you with. Win, win.
Meanwhile, on the Momo end of things, Youtooz is introducing a normal Momo and a Momo Cactus stickie plush into its Avatar: The Last Airbender collection. Yes, the adorable variant has Momo peeping out of a cactus at you. It really is incredibly cute. But we do have to hope that Momo hasn’t gotten secretly high on cactus juice. “The Desert” may not be one of our all-time favorite episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender, but it certainly is one of its most bizarre.
As mentioned, all of these Avatar Appa and Momo plushes “come with 4 sewn-in magnets, so you can stick them together or onto any magnetic surface.”
Sip From an Appa Mug
Do you want to feel happy every morning? The answer lies in starting your day sipping from Youtooz’s new Appa mug. We dare you to look this mug in the face and not smile back at its cheerful disposition. Making things so cute you have to grin back at them is Youtooz’s superpower. Appa is always darling, but his crinkled eyes and big snout melt the heart, here. Happily, he’s also microwave and dishwasher-safe. (Although he prefers to be hand-washed. Appa is a bit of a diva.) This new mug really completes the new Youtooz Avatar collection.
Youtooz’s New Avatar: The Last Airbender Products Release on February 22
All the Appas and Momos you could want will hit Youtooz on February 22, when the new Avatar: The Last Airbender collection drops. Coincidentally, or not so much, this is also the day Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s live-action adaptation arrives on Netflix. It’s a true holiday for ATLA fans.
The post Appa and Momo Star in Fuzzy Youtooz AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER Collection appeared first on Nerdist.
On 2 August, 2023, singer Lizzo was named in a lawsuit that accused her of creating a hostile work environment. Three former dancers allege the pop star subjected them to sexual and racial discrimination, fat shaming and physical and emotional abuse.
Lizzo argued that case should be dismissed under California’s anti-SLAPP statute — a special law that makes it easier to quickly end meritless lawsuits that threaten free speech. Her lawyers argued that the accusers were using the lawsuit to “silence” that freedom.
On February 2, a Los Angeles judge denied Lizzo’s motion to toss out this lawsuit dismissing certain accusations, but allowing the case as a whole to move forward toward a trial. The ruling rightfully signals that Lizzo, or any celebrity, is not protected from this sort of inexcusable conduct merely because she is famous, or a woman for that matter.
Whatever the truth is behind the allegations against Lizzo, more importantly, this case is a primary example that abuse can exist anywhere, and we can’t pretend that women can’t be abusers, too.
The idea that any woman, could be as capable as a man — making other people’s lives miserable, or even of sexual harassment, shouldn’t surprise us as much as it invariably does. Unfortunately, sisters are not always sisterly. Sexual harassment and abuse by women may be rare, but it’s not nonexistent.
Anyone can be afraid of the professional consequences of rejecting a boss. Anyone can be made to feel humiliated, or anxious about coming in to work because of what they’ll have to pretend they are comfortable with. And women, of course, can also be sexually harassed and abused by other women. Even now, the possibility still rarely enters into our assumptions. But what’s glaring is it is ingrained in us to see men as the problem and women as the answer, no doubt because so often that is how it pans out.
But anyone can behave badly, especially in the entertainment world where the kind of toxic, high-pressure environments where people with power are indulged in abusing it, so long as they’re getting the results they want. Harassment is ultimately an abuse of power, and these days power doesn’t always lie where it did.
Although we champion her, Barbie presides over a make-believe world, while in the real world the same old assumptions and pressures create the conditions under which some women thrive and others don’t. The only power that really counts, at work or in private life but especially in the entertainment world that hypocritically blurs the two, is the power to say no to something personally uncomfortable without having to live in fear of the consequences.
In 2013, actress Emma Roberts was arrested for beating up her then boyfriend Evan Peters. She broke his nose and bit him. Peters forgave her, did not want to press any charges, and ended up publicly comforting her as she was crying not long after the incident. It was reported that they were working to move past the incident. Roberts and Peters ultimately broke off their engagement, however, her career never really suffered and she stars in the new film Madame Web.
Think about if Peters had broken Roberts’ nose and bit her. As a society, the view of the entire situation would be different. We have to be careful in believing that forgiveness means that no abuse actually took place, when in fact, that is not the case. It is very common for victims of abuse to forgive their perpetrators. Men are no different to women.
In 2009, Elin Nordegren, Tiger Woods’ then wife, had allegedly found text messages on his phone that proved he was cheating on her, so she struck him with a nine iron, causing him to spit blood, scratched his face, and smashed out the windows of his car as he tried to get away. After he crashed, she panicked and made up a conflicting story on the spot. Tiger Woods had to undergo plastic surgery from the injuries she inflicted.
This particular ordeal provided us with an ugly glimpse into the behind-the-scenes life of, at the time, Nike’s golden child — the man who could do no wrong; the man who was feared on the golf course, and adored by us all, was suddenly human. This single, unfortunate incident made Tiger Woods just another man going through hard times with his wife, and that is how it ended. For the most part, women praised Nordegren for making Woods pay for cheating. He never pressed charges against the mother of his children, and she ultimately moved on with her life better than ever.
We have come to a place where we accept that most celebrities have the resources to stay out of jail, and attain counsel. Being a celebrity can influence decisions. Yet, in these two cases, the men showed pity on the women and quickly forgave them, almost in an effort to make the incident go away just as fast. Maybe the men assumed that nothing would happen to the women anyway; that domestic violence against them wouldn’t be taken seriously; that they would rather protect their image then take it any further.
After news breaks regarding celebrity scandals, people soon forget and move on to whatever the next big news story is. As a society, we need to expand our view of what abuse looks like in the entertainment world when perpetrated by women. They need to be taken more seriously. In the grand scheme of things, it truly benefits us all when they are.
Are you ready for the Jane Austen RPG you didn’t know you needed? Because 9th Level Games is delivering mashup magic with Sentai & Sensibility. Think of it like regency romance meets Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. Or, as the game makers put it, Bridgerton meets Kaiju. It’s a beautiful combination on paper, isn’t it? The mashup, which we first saw at Dicebreaker, looks intriguing beyond paper too, as you can see in 9th Level Games’ successful Kickstarter campaign. Take a look at this art of Mx. Cedar Abode, the Golden Ranger.
That art is only a sampling of what Sentai & Sensibility has to offer. You will play a member of the Regency elite with the usual bustling social calendar that comes with the position. Everything is business as usual until a Kaiju appears and threatens everything. Then you and your Sentai of Rangers transform into a unit of suited heroes, a la Power Rangers. You will work to defend your precious society from a sneaky organization called the Syndicate.
Excuse me whilst I execute a dramatic Regency faint to express how much I adore this concept.
Each player creates a Sentai Warrior and a type of role: the Premier, the Ronin, the Hussar, or the Dragoon. The type of hero will dictate which die the player will roll, as well as other strengths. Get all the details you need from the Kickstarter page. You still have a handful of days to back the campaign and claim an early spot in the Sentai & Sensibility fandom. Levels include PDF version, physical books, and a deck of companion cards.
The post Jane Austen Meets Kaiju in SENTAI & SENSIBILITY RPG appeared first on Nerdist.