Token: Blacks In Cinema

Trigger warning! Social outcasts be wary. There's only room for one of us in this movie. She may be a MA but she got auntie in vegas vibez. And you don’t piss off Auntie in vegas. You'll be lucky if you ONLY have your face painted white. What happens when the high school outcast gets a chance to be one of the cool kids, albeit 30 years later? She might be serving snacks but she also likes her men young. And she might kill yo kids. You better get on the first ship out of here, but you know us and ships! It's basically a PSA for therapy. Also, who brought Earth Wind & Fire into this?

A magical negro that’s more than just magic? Is that possible?  Lawrence Fishburne is a legend, and his role in the Matrix will forever be iconic. He has his own mission. Morpheus is the name given to the god of dreams, and in the Matrix and he is making sure everyone is woke so they can fight the power that is their ultimate system of oppression. He’s their world’s Deray Mckesson! He has a very active role throughout the entire film. He’s a badass that knows his destiny is to save the world by finding this ultimate weapon, and anyone getting in the way will have to face him down. An undeniable presence. But nobody can be told who Morpheus is, you have to see him for yourself.

Ice Cube is about that action boss! He’s got his boot knife; he has a game plan. He isn’t letting a damn snake take him out like that, and you love to see it. A fish out of water against a snake in the water. Anaconda is a classic amongst the modern B movie horror films. While other actors played very specific characters, this one was like they took Boyz in the Hood Cube and dropped him in the middle of the rainforest. You getting ALL the black. Cube has some great quotables in here, you just might have to listen a little closer. He sounds just like himself in every movie, and we’re here for it. It’s just Ice Cube energy all around. You may leave the film asking the same question as cube’s character “Its snakes dis big??

In terms of pure entertainment value, Ghostbusters is a 10/10. No question. However, in it's use of their token character? A 2/10. They had such a great character with Dr. Winston Zeddemore that was under utilized. Though he does have one of the best lines in the film "When someone asks if you're a god, you tell them YES!", Ernie Hudson's Winston is basically an exposition vehicle without a lot of contribution to the actual action or story. It's even more frustrating knowing that he had a much bigger role in the original script. And to add insult to injury, they denied him the role to voice Winston in the animated show! Sheesh. Who we gunna call to give Ernie his dues in the Ghostbusters universe? Rumor has it the new reboot will finally give Winston the respect he deserves. Fingers - err proton streams - crossed! Yooo also a special shout out to the other token cameo role by Carl Winslow (Reginald VelJohnson)!

A black character that has their own thoughts, agency, and opinions? Is it possible? And in a movie from the 90s no less? Here’s a teen comedy that broke the mold. What it looks like for a script to respect its tokens as three-dimensional human beings and not stereotypes?