The other week, Sandra Bullock picked up a “Best Actress” Academy Award for her role in the film The Blind Side. I personally did not see The Blind Side, mainly because it looked like another one of those “Magical Negro” movies that Hollywood seems to love. For those unfamiliar with Magical Negro movies, here’s the dictionary definition:
Magical Negro movie [maj-ick-ul knee-grow moo-vee ]
- noun
1.) A film where a wise and/or mysterious black character shows the main white characters the way.
2.) A film where the talented but troubled black character is shown the way by a white person.
3.) 80% of the films starring Cuba Gooding, Jr.
Now that we have established the definition of Magical Negroes, I want to know who was the greatest Magical Negro of all time. Below, I have compiled a list of candidates worthy of the crown.
When I hear the term “Magical Negro” these are the people that I think of:
Michael Clarke Duncan as John Coffey in The Green Mile
John Coffey was a given for this list, for the simple fact that he was literally a Magical Negro. The man brought a mouse back to life and absorbed a terminal illness right out of an old white woman. No wonder he was walking around talking about “I’se tired bawse.” I’d be tired too if I were an NFL lineman sized convict performing miracles on death row!
Cuba Gooding Jr. as Radio in Radio
Whenever I watch the film Tropic Thunder and hear Robert Downey Jr. say “You never go full retard”, I think of this movie. Cuba Gooding Jr. did a decent job, so I’m not going to start calling him “Simple Jack.” It’s just that the movie itself seemed like nothing more than another cliche defy-the-odds sports film along the lines of Rudy. Even though it’s a true story like The Blind Side, Radio still gets a nod for being a Magically Challenged Negro.
Rob Brown as The kid from Finding Forrester
No, I don’t remember his character’s name, nor do I care to Google it for the sake of this article. I just remember that Sean Connery showed his black ass how to harness his writing talent and helped him achieve greatness. “You’re the man now, dawg!”
On an unrelated note, am I the only guy who thinks he kind of favors NBA power forward Elton Brand? Like his little brother or something. Felton Brand.
Morgan Freeman whenever he’s not narrating something
Ok, not ALL the time…but Morgan has played his fair share of Magical Negroes in his career(The Chauffeur in Driving Miss Daisy, Andy’s boy The Shawshank Redemption, God, Mandela, etc…) to be included on this list. He’s still one of my favorite actors. It’s not Morgan’s fault that Hollywood can’t come up with enough vehicles for his talent!
Will Smith as Bagger Vance in The Legend of Bagger Vance
The biggest box office name in film, and you have him walking around carrying golf clubs for a white man?! Magical Golf Caddy Negro. ‘Nuff said!
Now that I’ve had some fun at Hollywood’s expense, who else do you think should be included on this list? Also, who is the greatest Magical Negro of all time in your opinion?
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Here’s another Magical Negro for yo ass: Jamie Foxx in The Soloist!
how about the black computer programmers in Die Hard 2 and Terminator 2?
i so agree with april
oh yeah what about denzel in remember the titans
Good stuff. But you really should see the movie Blind Side. make it a date movie since I do think its a little on the emotional side. Guaranteed – no magic.
LOL..white america loves them some magic negroes don’t they???
This begs the question: how do you feel about Reading Rainbow?
Chris Rock said the “Magic Negro” thing is why he has to turn down so many roles. He said he’s constantly getting scripts where he plays this street wise hustler who befriends a little white kid.
Chris teaches the kid how to handle bullies, get girls, and become socially adept while the white kid teaches him HOW TO READ.
I hate Hollywood.
My vote is for Morgan Freeman. He is the quintessential Magical Negro.
Morgan Freeman. All day.
SN: Blind Side was REALLY good, btw. Its not at all what you think…
@ Malnurtured Snay, Reading Rainbow inspired a generation to start reading, so LeVar Burton is automatically exempt from the Magical Negro label. Even on Star Trek: The Next Generation. His title on there was “Background Negro With A Banana Clip Over His Eyes”
@ M Slade, that’s sad & hilarious all at the same time!
@ Curly Q & Ms. P, you two have sold me on watching the movie now.
@ Candy, true.
@ Phoenix7, that, or they’re just unoriginal.
@ NAYDIA & April, didn’t seen that, but I’m sure you’re 100% right because it looks that way.
@ Rainmayun, I think they were just supporting characters. The Magical Negro in the 1st Die Hard was Reginald VelJohnson, a.k.a. Carl Winslow from Family Matters!
I’m with Leon. They should just change the term “Magic Negro” to the “Cuba Gooding Jr. syndrome”.
You have to explain “Magic Negro” to people. Everyone will instantly know what you’re talking about when you say “Cuba Gooding Jr. Syndrome”.
This is why it took me so long to go see the Blind Side cause I KNEW how it was gonna be. I explained the concept to a white girlfriend of mine, and she was like “it has nothing to do with a black person being helped by a white person”.
Yeah yeah, they only see what they want to see.
But it was a good movie. And Sandra was good in it. And my bf was on the plane the other day with the REAL Michael Oher and said he really did talk kinda like he was slow even though he tried to say the movie made him look more dumb than he was. WOMP WOMP.
Man, I always thought that Simple Jack was a parody of Radio anyway…you m-m-m-m-make me feel happy!
Queen Latifah was a magical negro in Bringing Down The House
I’ve got a couple of movies that come to mind displaying the “Magical Negro” syndrome:
- Dangerous Minds with Michelle Pfeiffer
- Freedom Writers with Hillary Swank
- Hardball with Keanu Reeves
Sinbad in First Kid definitely gets magical negro status
Gracias por los comentarios. Me encanta tu sitio, adios!
Darth Vader has to be on this list, I love James Earl Jones but he fits this category even better than Morgan Freeman. From
Hola, muchas gracias por esta informacion, estoy investigando sobre estos temas y todo esto me sirve bastante, saludos…
Don’t forget Whoopie Goldberg from Star Trek: The Next Generation.