Token: Blacks In Cinema

You may need subtitles for this one! It's great to see a black lead in a major blockbuster but tough when that character has a license to "act" black but said character isn't created black. Plotwise, if the concept is so difficult to explain you have to reiterate it in almost every scene, should you start that script back at square one? There are situations you read differently as a black person, and ultra-luxe high end spaces are some of them - even John David can't just put on a Brooks Brothers suit and walk in. Look, there isn't a lot of chocolate in Nolan's films but don't forget Morgan!

Where are all the whimsical black folk? We love Wes & we love to watch the trials of high functioning dysfunctional people, but when all of the color is on the peripheral, they can start to look like set dressing. Henry Sherman dresses as crisp as the rest but is he deeper than just flesh? He's the mirror to Royalx Everything you could want in a token character but doesn't get a chance to call out the explicit racism he is faced with. We love Danny and this is a film full of national treasures but this gem is underutilized. Black people can be quirky, and whimsical but deep too! Entertainment Value: A, Lazy Diversity Rating: A+

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The internet has been BUZZING with talk of "Black Trauma" with respect to movies and TV. Specifically incited by the launch of Amazon's "THEM", but on a larger scale all of black cinema, and the apparent need to focus on black pain/trauma for entertainment purposes. We decided to take a break from the normal review format to review this larger discussion being had. It is clear that The current times are making us hyper aware of the brutality that has and continues to be afflicted upon black bodies, but is there a place in modern cinema for black pain anymore? Should we let go of the stories that center on black pain and focus on only creating black happiness?

What's the point of fancy suits when you can't afford to pay off your bills? Is The Falcon a broke boi with a Gucci belt on? Steven thinks his money problems track with reality for a black superhero but Donna's ready for The Falcon to step up and go into the shoes of Captain America already. Does imposter syndrome hit superheroes too? The man fought Thanos and is still being humbled. He needs to be bumped up from JV to Varsity already! And to top it off, The Falcon donated Cap's shield and they turned around and gave it to a bootleg Captain America, we can't believe the levels of disrespect!

If you cape for cap, is that a red flag? Donna thinks Sam was "cool" but Steven thinks he had a helluva Tupac-like comeback #WhoShotYa. We just want them to give The Falcon SOME POWERS. His whole existence is humbling. Donna was anxious to see what them hands can do…but instead they cut to what (Sebastian) Stan could do. Everyone get's their shine, and Anthony is just…he's just…flying. Does the Falcon's personality in this give you "wannabe" vibes? Steven is worried Sam won't survive the series.

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Strait laced tokens who only react when the protagonist acts out. Diversity as an afterthought. Is Kahlua a stripper or a model employee? Would it have been more memorable for Maya if she played one of the other characters? Is the diversity the meat or the potatoes here? Better yet, are black people just the carrots in the beef stew that is a film? And calling out your token's blackness. It's like the N word, not everyone can say it.

Riot grrrls and black b*tches. The "pre Hamilton" edu-rap swagger of Daryll Mitchell. How would being black change the story for Cat's tough as nails character? How would Cat get away with all of that (very destructive) angry angst? Where is their momma at? If it was a black family what would your guess be? Hot take: Bianca & Cameron are the real villains, Chastity was just doing what she had to do. Give the woman her flowers.

Steven had a tough time sitting through the music. Donna has nothing but fond memories of it. How you gunna make the token the villain, the most interesting character AND the most loyal? When you seek out the woman of your dreams, she tells you what she wants and you decide to go with the side chick, it's a #N*ggasAintLoyal moment and we learn men will sink their teeth into anyone. Plus we come up with a whole new pitch for the black reboot that Anne Rice will need to sign off on. #Justice4Akasha