Talk:Magical Negro/Archive 3

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No more examples, please

Please do not attempt to provide any more "Examples." Additions like "That black dude in rudy" or "Fortune (Charles S. Dutton) in the film Rudy (1993)", no matter how well formatted, violate the official Wikipedia policy of WP:No Original Research and may be immediately deleted by any editor. That section begins ...

Examples of magical negroes as published by social commentators include:

There are enough examples already, and ALL of them have at least one citation (some have multiple) as per WP:Reliable Sources, i.e., it's not just, "I think that so-and-so is an example." Please, let's not hear any more suggestions or debates ... if you cannot provide a {{cite web}} or {{cite journal}} tag to back it up, don't add it, and if it doesn't have one, feel free to revert it. This has been discussed since before Mar 23, 2004 (see below), but I have moved the consensus view to the top of this Talk page for the newcomers to read first. —72.75.93.131 (talk · contribs) 19:05, 3 December 2006 (UTC)

I dont understand how you can make this rule and make it law? makes no sense, it isnt OR research if the def and the charecter in a film fit. Star trek is a perfectly valid example. The examples should help the reader, and the more popular examples the better. That is the purpose of this page to bring clarity, not to have some harsh law, if you apply that law to wiki it would be impossible to add content just because one editor says "NO MORE".--HalaTruth(ሐላቃህ) 01:11, 3 February 2007 (UTC)
It's not one editor, it's the consensus ... see WP:NOR, WP:V, and the history of edits on this article (this particular example has been removed several times already) ... this was becoming a crufty list ... the examples all have citations to published articles ... that was the consensus, and the comment at the begining of the section CLEARLY STATES **WARNING** Do not add an example unless you have a reference!!. --141.156.216.67 03:26, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

I find what you are doing to be very strange, look at the description, that is original research there is no source, so who are you to say that obvious examples cannot be added. it is not building the quality of this article by selecting what can contain or and what cannot. And even if a choir has an agreement this is open to be chanellenged to improve the article. I will now add OR tags to prove this imbalance.--HalaTruth(ሐላቃህ) 03:53, 3 February 2007 (UTC)

I've added a reference to Stephen King's short story "Ayana." There's no footnoted source because King himself uses the term "magical negro" to describe the title character within the story. I'd provide the exact quote, but I only have the audiobook.Seantrinityohara (talk) 04:39, 31 December 2008 (UTC)

=> Teal'c from famous Stargate SG-1 [1] ? he is magical, word of widsom, etc... sorry but don't we need popular example ? :) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.49.48.244 (talk • contribs) 13:45, 1 February 2008

Is Ejumpcut really a respectable source? Both as a fan of the Matrix and lover of cinema and literature in general, I really don't agree about Morpheus or the Oracle. They meet very few of the qualities the article itself lists as prerequisites, and the Ejumpcut article strikes me as fairly unprofessional in nature. The specific mention of Morpheus is summed up in a caption thusly: "Laurence Fishburne’s role as Morpheus in The Matrix is like a fairy godmother, in which any inconvienent Africanist baggage simply falls away." What is Africanist baggage? Regardless, neither character appears from nowhere, and in fact each has a complex, unique history within the text of the stories.--Hawkian (talk) 21:28, 18 August 2009 (UTC)

We missing a lot of example of the magical negro.[2].8xh256 (talk) 18:17, 27 November 2009 (UTC)

Calling for a cap on examples

This article is slowly becoming just a dumping ground for examples. Various editors are constantly adding unsourced statements about "the black guy/gal from such-and-such TV show / film." I'm glad to see there are an army of people monitoring the page to revert such additions, but we can't keep on doing this. There are currently 26 sourced examples on the page. I think this is plenty. If left unchecked, the list would surely keep on growing exponentially. That is why I am calling for a cap to be put on the examples. All that would have to be down is for the list to be put on a sub page and a template link left in its place. The examples would still be displayed on the page, but nothing could be changed on here directly. Or, I'm sure someone with more wiki skills could think of something else too.

I'm sure there has to be more cultural analysis of the Magical Negro in books and journals. The article could be expanded to include this analysis. That way, the list would complement the actual body of the page. Thoughts?

--Ghostexorcist (talk) 17:01, 8 March 2010 (UTC)

More Examples

Would Jim from Huck Finn count? He doesn't have special powers or anything, but he is presented as wiser than Huck (at least in some settings). Just a thought--I haven't added it to the article yet, nor will I without confirmation. Meelar 05:25, 23 Mar 2004 (UTC)

I think it's key that the Magical Negro archetype have magical powers of some guide, not just be a guide or moral leader--therefore Jim wouldn't qual. jengod 06:56, Mar 23, 2004 (UTC)

Jim wouldn't qualify also because he's an adult, but the contrast is almost more powerful since Huck is a child capable of power over him. -- Mbowen 08:53, September 23 2005 (UTC)

Here's a question: would Krishna count? He's black, basically, but he's not "negro" in the sense specific to America, of course. But he definitely fits the magical advisor in a subordinate social position thing perfectly. Almost definitively. -- कुक्कुरोवाच|Talk‽

A thought -- since Bagger Vance is based on the B. Gita, and that movie's on the list, then maybe Krishna would too. --Arcadian 02:03, 3 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Definitely not. This article is about a very specific archetype in American fiction. It has nothing at all to do with Krishna.--Pharos 03:53, 22 September 2005 (UTC)
Except Bagger Vance is Krishna, Bagger Vance=Bhagavan (God, hence Krishna) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.231.243.153 (talk) 21:59, 4 January 2010 (UTC)

I'm not sure that the handcar pumper from O Brother... should count here, unless you want to consider Homer the original Magic Negro--which he most definitely was not! Jengod's criterion is also a reason that Red from Shawshank should not be on this list--no magical powers there. If anything, Andy was the key figure in Red's redemption, and not the other way around. --69.109.58.99 07:52, 30 October 2005 (UTC)

So's Andy's the Magical Honky. A first in film.--Skeev 20:08, 1 September 2006 (UTC)
The handcar pumper is played by Lee Weaver, credited as "the Blind Seer". bd2412 T 11:15, 10 February 2008 (UTC)

What about the charecter from M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakble - Mr. Glass?

How does everyone feel about Whoopi Goldberg in Star Trek Next Generation? She doesn't seem to posess any magical qualities (although her near-agelessness is mentioned in one of the movies, I think), although she is there specifically to be a sort of psychologist: soothe their souls. I'd say remove, but I'm not 100%, so I thought I'd ask. Sir Isaac Lime 23:06, 1 March 2006 (UTC)

I'd say her charachter would apply, she is the ageless "wise" charachter that troubled people come to and she really just explains away thier problems.--Skeev 20:08, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

woopi on ST, yes, she's kinda psychic. also the voodoo cop in stir of echos 76.202.221.55 (talk) 22:27, 11 June 2008 (UTC)

is there any way black people can be shown in a film that won't piss off some jerk?

Oda Mae Brown was faaaaaaaaar from "wise"

Sure she wasnt wise, specially in that part where she says "you can use my body" and both souls, Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze, reunite... no, there was nothing Wise at all there. And magical?, hell no, she could only talk with the dead, and thats obviously not magical as anyone knows that all black people out there have soulful powers that are inprinted on them because of all the years they went through slavery (we shall call it... the uncle Tom chromosome...). -- —Preceding unsigned comment added by 201.215.167.125 (talk • contribs) 10 August 2006
No, Oda Mae Brown from Ghost was not wise. Doing a compassionate thing does not make you wise. Did she have a special ability? She sure did. Is that enough, along with her race, to qualify her for the stereotype of the "magical negro"? No, as the article makes clear.
Ironically, it is the scenario that 167.125 presents in a spirit of heavy-handed (and unhelpful) sarcasm that illustrates what would qualify Oda Mae Brown for the stereotype of the "magical negro": if her "soulful powers" came to her because of "all the years [black people] went through slavery". Just as the insulting stereotype of the "noble savage" demeans Native Americans by suggesting that they must have fascinating powers that can be turned to the benefit of Westerners, the insulting stereotype of the "magical negro" suggests that the oppression that black people have historically experienced has given them some fund of special magical power or at the very least Hollywood-profound insight -- which white people can then, of course, be the beneficiaries of.
I'm very glad that Oda Mae Brown did not fit into this stereotype; there's no textual indication that her race has anything to do with her ability to hear the dead and nothing in the script save some of her dialect choices would have changed had they chosen to make her white instead of black. I cannot fathom why 167.125 seems to want so badly for Goldberg's character to fit this demeaning stereotype; is it possible that Rush Limbaugh was visiting Wikipedia that day? -- 65.78.13.238 (talk) 22:25, 28 December 2008 (UTC)

I 'almost' added the following to the list of examples:

  • Andy Fidler (Eugene Levy) in the film "The Man" (2005) flips the race-roles stereotype in what may be a useful 'blunt force example' to present to the 'insistently race-conscious blind'.

But I figure it might be better to discuss first. I see a character like this as being an attempt to get people who are persistant in their denial to go 'ooooooh, yeah, I get it now...' by flipping the roles around while keeping the elements intact. Not that I trust those in denial to open their minds enough, but I see the attempt nevertheless. Thoughts?

And yes, im glad about you should mention The Man, now there's a movie that has oscar written all over it, as influential as citizen kane... -- —Preceding unsigned comment added by 201.215.167.125 (talk • contribs) 10 August 2006

And...

Would not Danny Glover in "Grand Canyon" fit in here?

I disagree with the following: Gossett in “An Officer and a Gentleman” - the drill sergeant role was not particularly different than white versions of the type; Shaq in “Kazaam;” “The Dude” in “Gladiator” - he displayed no particular authority, and was an interesting device to show how most in the world would have been utterly amazed with Rome; and, Chris Rock in “Dogma,” yes, he’s an angel, but so are a lot of the characters. I don't see significant differentiation.

In the judicial venue, in the 1980/90's there were a proliferation of television and film judges who would fit the motif. Today, 2005, black judges portray the same crankiness or collegiality as the white ones.

Final Destination series? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Destination#Other_characters —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.207.3.179 (talk) 09:46, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Lucius Fox

How is Lucius Fox from Batman Begins an example of this? He's only poorer than Bruce Wayne because Wayne is the richest man in Gotham (or near to it) and he's not "magical", he's a scientist. Wayne's butler, if anyone, is the "magical negroe"--except that he's white. A magical Briton perhaps? --Daveswagon 04:03, 31 December 2005 (UTC)

I agree. I removed it. He in no way furthers any spiritual awakening in Bruce Wayne, or any other characters. Sir Isaac Lime 02:35, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

Theres nothing special about Lucious Fox, except in the way that is played by Morgan Freeman, who always plays his characters pretty much like Red from Shawshank Redemption, wich is in a soulful way.

Juba from Gladiator

The Nubian is an example of the magical negro archetype. he possesses knowledge that Maximus does not (how to treat the wound on Maximus's shoulder) and he helps the protagonist. And Juba may not have been able the same great things that the hero does. Whoever left the Edit summary "Juba is not magical" when they deleted him from the list misunderstands the archetype; the magical negro doesn't necessarily have to put on a wizard's hat and cast spells with a wand to be "magical". Gatherton 05:49, 31 December 2005 (UTC)

  • I beg to differ. The Nubian is not a unique character. He is a fighting slave like all the others. The fact that he is treating Maximus' wound is irrelevant since his position could easily be taken by any number of other nubian, arabian or italian slaves that were in tow on that caravan. Part of this stereotype is that it specifically references 'deus ex machina' and the nubian fighter in this film does not act as deus ex machina for the protagonist. Additionally his blackness is never a focus nor is he, in any way, a side-kick to Maximus. He happens to be from a different land and is the closest thing that the protagonist has to a friend by the end of the film. His station, additionally, is never portrayed as lower than that of the protagonist. -Onimantu —Preceding unsigned comment added by 130.13.216.88 (talk • contribs) 17:10, 23 June 2007

God? Lucius? Rufus? Kazaam?

How in the name of God is... God part of this stereotype? God is an uneducated simpleton?

The list is frankly ridiculous. Basically it boils down to "black people who help the protagonist but aren't the protagonist".

I agree, God really shouldn't be on that list. God, in Bruce Almighty, isn't helping the white protagonist in the same sense as the Magical Negro - if God so wanted, he could strike down Bruce with a lightning bolt. Insofar as the God character is supposed to reflect some idea of the Christian God, He helps specifically because he is a being who is superior in all respects to the white protagonist of the film, not because he is somehow a convenient subservient character to whom the protagonist turns when he needs help solving a problem.

I completely disagree. God is by definition magical. The fact that God is being personified by a black man, instead of promoting a positive image of black men, it reinforces the the magical negro stereotype. It's ham-handed attempt to put blacks in a positive light. "Look! God's black! God is good. Therefore blacks are good too!"
The problem people are having with "Black God" as being a Magical Negro, comes from the fact that people are focusing on the simpleton aspect (and being offended), rather than the "I'm the token minority whose sole purpose to to show the white protaganist a Greater Truth, like 'family is the most important thing in the world.'" That's the "magical" aspect. There doesn't have to be any overt magic, and it's absurd to believe that there has to be. It's the pseudo-enlightenment element that's offensive. Especially considering that the pseudo-enlightment comes from the fact that Magical Negro has a "simpler" life. He's a salt-of-the-earth character.
67.188.7.78 06:20, 25 June 2007 (UTC)
I agree. God is SUPERNATURAL, not magical. Magic obeys certain rules. God makes the rules. As far as Morgan Freeman, I am white and I totally believed him as God. I am pretty picky about people personifying God, as I am a Christian, but I liked him in the role. George Burns was pretty good too, but I actually prefer Morgan Freeman. He portrays the wisdom, intellect, and compassion of the character well, and also his sovereignty. I can't think of any other actor I would like as much in the role, though I am open to any suggestions-I mean, maybe I have forgotten someone. Definitely NOT a Magical Negro. Just a really good actor portraying a deity. Of course, many of the things in the movie I don't think God would ever do, but it is just a work of fiction and I can enjoy it as such, but if someone who couldn't carry the role had played God, I probably wouldn't have watched it.Ronar (talk) 16:47, 8 May 2008 (UTC)
I don't think this is a good example either. He's God.
Any aspect of the characters role as 2nd fiddle is funny because its God being played, not a black man.
If a reliable source calls Freeman's portrayal of God a "Magical Negro," then there should be no problem with listing him on the page. There is no reason to get into a religious discussions over whether Gods is supernatural or magical. Citing religion and deleting something based on that slants the page away from NPOV. --Ghostexorcist (talk) 13:18, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
Define "reliable". Of the sources confirmable online which mention the role, we find an article in the Faith, Spirituality and Sacrilige section of the online magazine "Slate" and an article in The Onion (why in God's name is a satirical newspaper used as a Wikipedia reference anyway?). In truth, I'm finding myself questioning why that role is listed as Magical Negro due to the spirit the term is used in. A "Magical Negro" as defined by this very article is used as a racist throwback. As is also stated within the article, the Magical Negro is ultimately subservient to the European-American. And while it is unquestionably true that God's role in this movie is the enlightenment of Bruce, he presents himself to be in no way subservient. By his first meeting with Bruce it is made blatently obvious that God is doing this not because of any percieved obligation to Bruce, but because he's fed up with Bruce's habit of blaming the divine for all of his problems and is enlightening Bruce for his own ends. Quoting the character "You think you can do it better, so here's your chance". Really, I don't see this as fitting the spirit of the term. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.5.90.236 (talk) 04:03, 30 May 2008 (UTC)
Okay. Is it possible, just POSSIBLE, that Morgan Freeman was cast as God in two movies in the 2000s, not because he's black, but because he's MORGAN FREEMAN??? Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and sometimes Morgan Freeman is just. Morgan. Freeman. Oh my sweet and fuzzy *raceless* Lord. It seems like thinking that a black man can only be cast to play God in a mainstream American movie for a "pseudo-enlightened" stunt is, wait for it, pretty racist. Also, the whole Magical Negro-simpler life comparison does NOT work here. That's what both movies were about! God can't fix things without taking away free will. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.181.43.249 (talk) 00:51, 30 June 2008 (UTC)
Are you commenting on the articles statements supported by verified statements from reliable sources - are are you just using the space for a forum? In the second case, I will be removing the comment above. -- The Red Pen of Doom 02:27, 30 June 2008 (UTC)
I'm sorry. I was a little ticked off when I typed that. Feel free to delete, it does seem more appropriate for a forum. I'll restate it here without the extra irritation- I doubt the credibility/facts of sources that don't take into account the fame of an actor and the nature of a role, and instead seem to blindly categorize all African-Americans that play roles that are in any way supernatural, as magical negroes. It just doesn't make logical sense in this case, and it would appear that there are others who have the same objection. Yes, that's OR, but I'd appreciate if someone could find a source on it. I can see the logic of many of these, but that one just stuck out as particularly racist, even/especially in light of the subject matter of the article. The role of God within the Almighty movies does not appear to fit the criteria for Magical Negro put forth within the article, and from what I can see, the source cited does not make reference to Morgan Freeman as a black man portraying God, except in the comments section, which would render it OR/the opinion of the editor. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.181.43.249 (talk) 07:51, 2 July 2008 (UTC)
>instead of promoting a positive image of black men, it reinforces the the magical negro stereotype. It's ham-handed attempt to put blacks in a positive light.

Oh come on. You know people would be just as offended had the cast a white man as God. You would be saying "Oh so God is a white man?". I would say they cast Morgan Freeman because he's been the narrator in so many movies, which is similar to God. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Gtbob12 (talk • contribs) 22:06, 14 July 2008 (UTC)

This page is not to discuss personal opinions about this matter. It is to discuss the article and what reliable sources have said about the topic in sources that we can verify. If you do not wish to discuss how to improve the content of the article by providing additional reliable sources that speak to the topic, please take your personal rants elsewhere. -- The Red Pen of Doom 00:05, 15 July 2008 (UTC)
Just popping in again, but I seriously debate the "reliable sources" part. As I stated priorly, the sources used in the article were an article in "The Onion" and an article in "Slate". I wouldn't classify either as "trustworthy or authoratative in relation to the subject at hand". 68.5.90.236 (talk) 04:07, 29 July 2008 (UTC)
Your comment about previous sources used is noted. Future comments related to improving the current article are welcomed, but article talk pages are not a forum. -- The Red Pen of Doom 11:21, 29 July 2008 (UTC)
So, ARE the sources used to denote the portrayal of God by Morgan Freeman an example of the "magical negro" phenomenon verified and reliable? I don't have much experience with them, but just because one or two yutzes made that connection in a movie review doesn't necessitate its inclusion in an encyclopedia. Regardless of my personal opinion, those citations seem as though they are MISAPPLYING the term drastically. The definition offered on this page indicates the same sentiment. Maybe the list itself should be retitled...?--Hawkian (talk) 04:55, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Morgan Freeman

Wow. Four entries. He really made quite a lot of his career playing MNs. Speaking of which, would his role in Hard Rain count as well?

I've removed The Shawshank Redemptionfrom the list. In the original novella, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, Red is a white male "with a big mop of carroty red hair"; that is, he wasn't written as a magical negro. Does casting a black actor in a role wherein his or her character in any way helps a character played by a white actor automatically render the former a magical negro? 199.221.98.4 (talk) 16:37, 24 March 2008 (UTC)
- Yes, I think that is what the whole article is about. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 85.178.45.45 (talk) 05:14, 30 May 2008 (UTC)


Ah. I was just coming in here to comment that there's several of the examples that are not legitimately MN. MN refers to characters that:

  • are tribalistic or deeply stereotypical in some other way
  • posess special mystical powers or abilities that are never explained beyond that they derive from the character being (it was very well stated in the article) "closer to the earth"
  • use their special powers to help the emblematic white lead character

In other words:

John Coffey in The Green Mile - Good example. Coffey is slow witted and physically oriented. He has mysterious powers that seem like voodoo and he subjugates himself to the white lead character and uses his powers to help the white people.

'God' in films Bruce Almighty - Bad example. In these films Freeman plays God. God is not a sterotypical 'negro'. His powers are not mysterious or culturally derived. He's simply omnipotent because he's God. While Freeman does do janitor-esque work in some parts of the films he does this for his own amusement rather than as a form of being subjugated. In fact, at no point in the films is the God character subject to the white lead actors. Quite the opposite is true. The God character helps the lead characters out of compassion toward a lower being rather than out of subjugation to the white man.

Try to imagine The Green Mile with the exact same dialog and plot except that Michael Clarke Duncan played the warden and Tom Hanks played John Coffey. This obviously does not fit. Now try to imagine Bruce Almighty with Morgan Freeman and Jim Carrey's roles reversed. It fits just as easily as the film that was made. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.26.253.141 (talk) 10:47, 8 January 2010 (UTC)

I re-removed The Shawshank Redemptionfrom the list. and will continue to do so until a new source is referenced. www.fortheretarded.com is not an authoritative source for an encyclopedia. (NOT EVEN REMOTELY!). furthermore the cited reference makes no argument whatsoever that it should be concluded other than that one character is white and the other black. 1. red was written as an irish man. 2. he is clearly not actually magical. 3. his "power" as being "the guy who can get it for you" is not even unique or special, as andy states that he "had to go through one of your competitors". 4. Red does not disregard himself to dutifully serve the white protagonist as magical negroes do. 5. Red is a protagonist in his own right in the film. Grabba (talk) 22:48, 3 March 2010 (UTC)

132.241.245.49

this user made the folowing changes [[3]] and [[4]]. I think they were totally wrong and unfounded. they also summarizd the first edit with "dumbest article ever." I think this shows that they don't know what they're talking about. I reverted their edits and assume that the other users will back me up, since it was they who made those contributions originally. Additionally, those of us who edit this page must consider it something other than "the dumbest article ever." Gatherton 00:21, 27 January 2006 (UTC)

Removed Lucius Fox

Much of this list is off-topic, but particularly Lucius Fox. He's not particularly mysterious, as he tells Wayne and the audience his story, and he has no magical powers of any sort. He's basically an ally, like Alfred & Commissioner Gordon, who happens to be black.

This list is just sad. Some people need to go have a good read up on archetype, sidekick, stock character, leading actor, role (performing arts) and related themes and come back when they're better informed.
Someone needs to take a hatchet to the "list of examples"--which is no longer a list of examples, which REALLY annoys me--I keep saying it. Anyway, if no one else prunes this, I shall.
Quill 00:51, 8 February 2006 (UTC)

Go for it. I took out a couple of the worst "examples." Really, doesn't "Baggar Vance" serve as the best example? Are any other necessary? Sir Isaac Lime 12:25, 11 February 2006 (UTC)

Fox provides all the tech for Warne...the modern equivalent of magic. Then, in the latest film, he provides Batman with an out for using the cellphone device which defies reality...much like magic does in a narrative. I think the way Lucius Fox is depicted is absolutely in line with this article and does serve the role of the "Magical Negro" in these films. Vaginsh (talk) 06:05, 9 August 2008 (UTC)

Lucius Fox is a DC Comics character dating to 1979. He is portrayed in the films Batman Begins and The Dark Knight by Morgan Freeman. If you wish to indicate that the original character (in the comic medium) was an example of this stereotype, make that clear in the article and find reliable sources... otherwise, I'm pretty sure comic book characters are off-limits. Interestingly, his fictional biography begins with the line, "CEO of Wayne Enterprises, Fox has the "Midas Touch," an ability to turn failing businesses into successful conglomerates."

This is getting rediculous, why don't we take a vote? Post here with your opinion on the Lucious Fox issue. Gatherton 15:39, 5 February 2006 (UTC)

Remove it. Sir Isaac Lime 12:28, 6 February 2006 (UTC)

Remove it. --kchishol1970 14:45, 6 February 2006 (UTC)

Remove it. Good God Almighty--what are people thinking? Are people thinking???! Quill 00:44, 8 February 2006 (UTC)

5 Primary Examples?

Any chance we could agree on around 5 or fewer examples that show the Magical Negro stereotype? There is no reason for the article to become a definitive list of what is and isn't a stereotype, it should just explain it, and show a couple things COMMONLY thought of as belonging to that stereotype.

My votes would be for: Mother Abigail in The Stand, the Green Mile Guy, and Baggar Vance. Maybe Uncle Remus. Sir Isaac Lime 13:20, 14 February 2006 (UTC)

not the green mile, I don't think. John Coffey was the central figure, even if it wasn't told from his point of view. I thought the theme was one more of martydom. Novium 08:02, 8 May 2006 (UTC)
We should be using the term's Spike Lee's actual examples as a guide[5]. He coined the term, after all.--Pharos 23:33, 8 May 2006 (UTC)
Uncle Remus and Bagger Vance are the only examples that need to be cited, in my opinion... unless a particularly notable source used one of the others.--Hawkian (talk) 05:06, 23 September 2008 (UTC)

Kazaam

I removed the Kazaam entry. I've never seen any accusations, and intuitively, Shaq does not appear to have been cast as a genie for his mystical qualities, it was the whole hip-hop theme. RadioYeti 03:10, 15 February 2006 (UTC)

I would appreciate it if 24.0.91.81 would give some reasoning behind adding Kazaam back to the list, besides "obviously does" on the editing history. I don't want to start some sort of edit war but the addition seems sort of silly to me and I don't have whatever reasoning is behind it.RadioYeti 03:32, 24 February 2006 (UTC)

Pulp Fiction

Jules Winfield, as played by Samuel L. Jackson, is a scripture quoting, bible toting, hit man. In the apartment gunfight scene, somehow he is magically able to avoid injury although many bullets from several guns are fired directly at him at point blank range. He begins to think that God has a greater plan for him, and seeks redemption. He is the only character to emerge unscathed at the end of the film.

Jackson is not supposed to be a magical negro in pulp fiction. His religious outlook and his surviving the scene in which he is shot at several times is meant to contrast the next scene in which John Travolta accidentally shoots the guy they're taking to vin rhames. He is not a magical negro, he's a plot device. I dont see why you keep removing the other two entries for Jackson. They fit the definition and are a notably demeaning portrayal of the magical negro. Please explain your reasoning, and when you leave a comment put four ~ (tildes) at the end so other users can see your signature. KI 02:36, 23 February 2006 (UTC)
Perhaps it is because you don't explain your additions. 155.84.57.253 14:14, 23 February 2006 (UTC)
Valid additions do not need to be discussed before they are added. Now it has been explainied nonetheless. KI 15:19, 23 February 2006 (UTC)

Examples

Examples should be limited to those that actually fit the archetype and clearly explain the qualities inherent. All these additions of every black character is ridiculous. (Particularly the Three Wise Men.) We really need to find a couple primary examples. Perhaps it should be limited to those that are discussed in the external links (Stephen King's characters, Baggar Vance, et cetera). Sir Isaac Lime 22:50, 1 March 2006 (UTC)

Just re-removed many of the characters that clearly do not fit the archetype or are not justified in the links. Perhaps any additions to the list should be annotated with were they appear in discussions of the Magical Negro. I left characters in that I did not know whether or not they applied. Since Can'tStandYa persists in reverting every edit that I do, I'd like to ask that he/she justify the inclusion of those names deleted from the list. Sir Isaac Lime 23:02, 1 March 2006 (UTC)
Okay, this is absurd. Please, to those reverting back changes with no justification, give your reasons for the examples on this page. That is what it is for. Sir Isaac Lime 02:56, 2 March 2006 (UTC)
You have been warned for vandalism on other pages in the past. Clearly you understand that mass deleting entries without any consensus falls under vandalism. No one else wants those removed. That's why you're edits have been repeatedly reverted. Also, when adding a new topic for discussion, add the topic at the bottom of the page, not the top. Thanks. KI 03:40, 2 March 2006 (UTC)
Sorry about putting this post at the top originally. I believe the following examples are incorrect for the following reasons:

The Three Wise Men- Please. The three are nearly identical, there is no subservience apparent in the African wiseman. He does not help the main character understand himself. The Magical Negro is, as another user said, and American archetype.
Gus Gorman (Richard Pryor in Superman III)- Has no magical powers. Does not help Superman's soul. Simply your standard comic foil.
Oda Mae Brown- Discussed elsewhere. Not subservient.
Kazaam- Discussed above. Silly.
Apostle Rufus- Not subservient. Not any more magical than anyone else in the movie. Does not help anyone reach an understanding. Simply there (like most characters in the movie) for a couple one-liners and to get the characters on their way.
The Oracle - Not subservient. Not cut and dry, but I think it is vague enough that it doesn't make a valid example.

Holy Cow! I disagree with that. Her entire purpose is to midwife the birth of the chosen one. Like some metrosexual black widow spider, he might as well bite her head off and eat her after she's done her bit.

Mateo from In America - Doesn't come close to fitting the stereotype. Not subservient, not magical. Does not help the main character's soul, the children help his soul, and he helps with money. In a way, the opposite of a Magical Negro.
Eko from Lost - Not subservient. Not magical. Does not help character make peace. Essentially a similar character to Locke, but African.
Rose from Lost - Not subservient. Not magical. A real stretch to include her. She is simply a normal person in nearly every way possible.
Sam from Danny the Dog - Not subservient; Jet Li is not "above" Sam. If he were, there would be a valid case for it, but as it is, no.
Priestess Elosha - From what I have seen of the show (just first season), there is nothing to support this. Simply a priestess. A minor character, does not have any of the qualities of the Magical Negro.
Guinan from Star Trek - I think not really. Posted further about it above.
What does everyone else think? Sir Isaac Lime 06:07, 2 March 2006 (UTC)

There is no need to catalog every instance of the archetype, lets keep the list low enough to provide the most blatant examples. The point of examples is to illuminate, not to provoke controversy. Wikipedia is not a battleground. hateless 23:02, 2 March 2006 (UTC)
I've kept the list as is but moved it to a separate page. I dont mind deleting a lot of those though. KI 23:34, 2 March 2006 (UTC)

There's discussion on AfD about merging the list into this article. I think it is sensible, and I think Sir Arthur Lime's suggestion that references be made to where the characters were referred to as "magical negros" would be helpful. Ones that don't cut it could be kept on the talk page until consensus is formed. Other examples I can think of are the "It's A Wonderful Chest" skit from Chappelle's Show (MN played by Dave Chappelle) and the magical negro skit from The Man Show played by Jerry Minor. Esquizombi 08:11, 13 March 2006 (UTC)

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