Subverting the usual implication of the character being broad-minded, both Draco and Blaise are pretty big. "I have piles and piles of black friends. This subtly belittles the race and degrades their influence. So, yay for increasing diversity!! Sure, Dionne (Stacey Dash) could technically be. In. But she does have an established personality as a technophile and occasional, Alicia Fox also became this to Paige in 2014 when the latter recruited her as a, She debuted in 2003 initially winning the Women's Championship in her first match. She faces bullies, encounters her first love(s), deals with Because that is what people go through so we as a black community should be able to see that even if it is as the white protagonists sidekick. And considering that the woman that Carter is in love with is black, uh, yeah. While the white protagonists grow and evolve as people throughout the series or film. In fact, thanks to the telling of their struggles gets a swanky reporting job in New York by the end and, of course, solves racism. another day). When I did happen to connect to a Black, female character on screen, she was nearly always in a secondary role. It really did affect my identity!! If you don't feel like dusting off your VHS tape, Clueless is available to stream on Netflix. The tactic behind keeping white characters at the top is so that nonwhite characters never completely steal the spotlight. Devin Freidman wrote an article called "Will You Be My Black Friend?" If theres one role that every struggling black actress has had to rely on at some point in her career, its the Sassy Black Friend. Im going to try to be as fair as possible. Other examples include Tucker from Danny Phantom or AJ from Fairly Oddparents. (heres the link in case you want to give it a read, its truly fantastic http://appiah.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Is-the-post-in-postmodernism-the-Post-in-Postclonial-Critical-Inquiry-17.2.-1991.pdf). His Grandma is a Sassy Black Woman who can out funk anyone. It also shows just how deeply this system goes to keep Black people at the bottom of the rung. These days what I remember of adolescence is the horrible things that happen to everyones bodies and personalities seemingly simultaneously but watching Clueless reminds me of that fascinating, once-in-a-lifetime rush of self-discovery, of feeling out the edges of yourself and finding, to your surprise, that there actually were edges, delightful in their newness and uniqueness. By eliminating the agency of these characters the media is saying that their real-life stories dont exist or, more importantly, dont matter. Most people remember classic 90s and '00movies like Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You, or High School Musical. The "Black best friend" is described as a character archetype found in movies and TV shows that center around a white protagonist. Andrea Moreno is the black best friend of Melinda Gordon in. We ultimately know nothing about her beyond that she, The sorority's other two non-white characters are Jessie, who exists to be a, Buddy is the black best friend to the white Guy. The '80s and '90s were a prime era for great teen movies, and Clueless is often lumped in with 1988's sharp satire Heathers, which shares a focus (popular high school girls) and certain elements (hyper-stylized dialogue and costumes) but in tone is the pitch-black yin to Clueless's sunny yang. Plus doing all that with braids?! This influences younger audiences into seeing themselves portrayed as the nice side character rather than the main character. Oops. Thank you!! With default one-dimensional portrayal, these token character feeds into what Kwame Anthony Appiah discusses in his essay, Is the Post- in Postmodernism the Post- in Postcolonialism?. White people are not the superior race simply because there is no such thing as a superior race. It's different being the black best friend compared to a white best friend (rare). Newer series/movies such as The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Tall Girl, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and Stranger Things also have the trope. Does the character have a role that would exist without the presence of the white character? Lawson gives a little synopsis about the show without giving away too much. high school years. And since you're black, and I'm white, that makes it more a-special for the audience! Instead of casting the black actor Your black best friend is sassy. Originally posted . The whole "Sassy Black Woman" or "Black Best Friend" thing has its roots in the classic film eras of the 30s, 40s, and 50s, when most black actresses could expect to play slaves, maidsand little else. Just plopping a black sidekick into a film without any type of thought into the character, with no dynamics is almost as bad as them not being there at all. character with a white best friend although it does happen. Throughout the opinion piece, they include ma. Stream Mixtape #94: Rebirth of Spring Now. Since I wrote that piece, Hollywood hasn't slowed its . No. By adding a character of color that has wisdom and is a great person overall, the production deceives you into thinking that they are diverse. By Eric Deggans. These stereotypes give the facade of diversity, while subliminally downgrading the black community. She is the person you call when you are sad, your sassy protector, and your rock to lean on. It wouldve been so amazing to see more representation for minorities in the media while I was growing up, but it is still pretty great that we have this growing diversity now. I did not look half as good). The character who always comes to mind when we think of the archetype is Hattie McDaniels Mammy in Gone With the Wind. These films all star a white protagonist. We all love the Gallaghers, but "Shameless" is as guilty as the rest of them. If you count Dale Arden's cameraman/confidant, there are two of these. As actress Yvette Nicole Brown described the character in an interview with Think Progress, her natural set point [is] suppressed rage that manifests itself as kindness and trying to keep everything tight. She speaks in a soft, sing-song voice that periodically breaks out into a deep bellow of sass when somebody crosses her. This meant that I had a very limited number of Black heroes that I could name in my repertoire. Clueless offered me my first inkling that someday, I might grow up to be a fully formed person, instead of constantly feeling like an awkward child utterly dependent on others. The Queen's Gambit is a captivating show on the unique, underreported subculture of chess that deploys a hackneyed, racist trope in depicting its sole Black character. It might have needed to be taken prior to Wilmore's upgrade to correspondent. Subverted in that Original Cindy has a healthy and acknowledged sex life and frequent subplots involving her life and relationships. The figure of the black best friend is a woman who exists merely as a supporting role to highlight and contrast the qualities of her white best friend. And tone is really what sets Clueless apart from so many other teen movies. Shes refreshing in many ways, a fan favorite, and a hilarious addition to the show, but she has yet to have her own, real story line. Change). Nia Tipton is a writer living in Chicago. Rose Catherine Pinkney, a television executive, told the Times that there is a long tradition of black best friends in Hollywood. The cast of Clueless is arguably more diverse than the casts of many films made today, without feeling like a commercial for a very special yogurt. Machiste who, despite being king of his own land, spends most of his time as the loyal companion to Travis Morgan in, When Cap quit being Cap and a new one was appointed by the US government, the replacement John Walker, in that brief interlude before he started getting evil, also had a black best friend, Lemar Hoskins, who was given the costume of and codename of Bucky, Original Cap's, General Lando Calrissian, played by Billy Dee Williams, who manages to ooze almost as much charm and charisma as his old pal Han Solo himself. Like most people my age, I gained aseriouslyconcerning amount of knowledge from watching movies. They really are. (Also, Neptune, the town where the show takes place, is divided into classes which look at the money you make and frequently also the colour of your skin (some exceptions, but as a rule the white kids are on top) - Wallace wasn't so much the black best friend to give the main character a black best friend, rather he was black because she wouldn't be able to make friends with someone who wasn't also spurned as a social outcast to some degree, and with the town being a little racist as well as money obsessed, it made sense for it to be the black boy she felt sympathy for. Nah. as the. Something went wrong. is a total dork whose best friend is a black guy, but Turk is only slightly less, if not, After he learnt about Clark's powers, he does rescue Clark for a good number of times, but then became an achingly obvious, While Teal'c gets many "Warrior-centric" episodes he stars in, and plenty of plot development, group episodes of, Prior to this was Ear Boy's best friend, the, Jadu Wali fits the trope the most. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from thestaff@tvtropes.org. best friend, maybe consider them for the lead. I recently wrote a blog post describing the most difficult thing about being a black female medical student. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Automatically we can tell Miles (Rafael Casal) is a white man but not representative of all white people, he is just playing a role. In season four, episode 12 of Schitt's Creek, Moira Rose (Catherine O'Hara) is seen pacing the room as she waits for Roland Schitt to show up at the hospital for his wife Jocelyn (Jenn Robertson) who is going into labor. Diversity should not be a policy or guideline; it should be a natural occurrence. Marvel movies incorporate the trope. An Undead Horse Trope that may be depressingly difficult to put down. Some detractors said that the movie conjured up the same stereotypical images that the Mammy character perpetuated. Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide has Simon 'Cookie' Cook, who is Ned's nerdy black best friend. You are first aware of the position in the first paragraph. Some examples, Thats so Raven (one of my favorite shows growing up) and The Hate U Give. The worst offender is the extremely WASPy and nationalist and hateful family from. I think that self-discoverylike most thingstakes a whole lotta time. People watch Clueless and see Dionne's character and automatically assume that black women are not afraid to speak their minds, are sassy, and are always in your face. Even now I can find myself evaluating my closest friendships and trying to ask myself if I'm the token minority. I was a few years away from being a teenager in 1995, and, thus, many of the references in Clueless went completely over my head the first time I watched it. This put Clueless among the ranks of several mid- and late-'90s movies and television shows that helped to normalize and deepen portrayals of LGBTQ characters, coming out (no pun intended) on the heels of MTV's The Real World season three, which featured out and HIV-positive Pedro Zamora, and paving the way for later shows likeEllen and Will & Grace. It's plenty funny, and it's not afraid to wink at its characters' occasional lack of perspective. he VANISHES without any explanation whatsoever. By formulating this stereotype, we are stereotyping all African Americans and subconsciously labeling them at a smaller level of interest and importance. Popular 'Black best friend' examples would be Dion Davenport from Clueless, Chastity from 10 Things I Hate About You, Chad Danforth and even Taylor McKessie from High School Musical, Rhodes in Iron Man, Sam Wilson in Captain America: Civil War, to name just a few. See additional information. And when you say "Some of My Best Friends Are X", you want people to know that there is credibility behind that statement. Luckily, like Cher arguing her way to a better report card, Heckerling and Stovitz persisted and finally got their screenplay picked up after big-time producer Scott Rudin gave it his stamp of approval. And when you say "Some of My Best Friends Are X", you want people to know that there is credibility behind that statement. Also, all of her outfits were literally the best (fun fact: I was Dionne for Halloween one year. She is flawless to the point of being unreal. Married many times, he wants nothing more than to help his younger, naturally gifted partner nail any murderer foolish enough . (LogOut/ And there wasone trope thatkept popping up over and over as I revisted some of my faves:the role of the Black best friend.. It was hard to decipher between the parts of me that were me, and the parts that were influenced by those around me. shes just a caricature, a type. His other Grandpa is a Jewish Mummy which doesn't quite work out. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. She is flawless to the point of being unreal. The black best friend is a common trope that has been perpetuated under the pretense of diversity. Like, imagine the feeling you get when your sock slips down into your shoe and you arent given the chance to fix it. I know Ive been that friend for most of high school. (another argument for another time). Those characters: what I gravitated to was how positive they could be.". someone who's been genetically altered to look like her, wrote an article for the Washington Post about the situation, He's also an MIT graduate, idolizes Stephen Hawking, and is one of the smartest guys on the show. All that being said, the token black friend (or BBF) is a stereotype that has mostly been weeded out due to minorities seeking roles of higher acclaim. but then he dies in Vietnam, and Forrest names his eventual shrimping company after him - giving a share of the profits to his mother, beforehand Karla was going to die, but they decided to spare her, revealing the vampire serial killer to just be Principal Higgins, and die to motivate her to finally face the killer, In a fake ending written to confuse potential leakers, she was one of the killers, but this was never intended to be canon, is revealed as a traitor who wishes to remain subservient to men. On the other hand, Jim and Huck don't always see eye-to-eye on some issues, such as their discussions over the wives of Henry the Eighth, the many different languages in the world, or the Solomon's decision to cut a child in half. This subtly belittles the race and degrades their influence. He may kill every assassin dispatched against him with casual obliviousness, disassemble the evil plot with trivial ease, and otherwise destroy the bad guy's evil empire without ever becoming the wiser. He's an experienced homicide cop. Heckerling's strategy paved the way for more teen-centric updates of classics both great (10 Things I Hate About You, Cruel Intentions) and not so much (the less said about O and She's the Man, the better). I treat them just like everyone else.". You've got class. The 'Big Dance' In, Jason is the Black Best Friend of Charlie and Duncan in, In one of the earliest examples in film, Sam is this to Rick in, Blaise Zabini is indicated to be the only person that Draco respects/sees as an equal. Will you help us keep Vox free for the next nine years by making a gift today? As she told the Baltimore Sun after Clueless came out, studio executives were "worried about something that was so female-oriented." And again. It was written by Aisha Muharrar and directed by Emily Halpern. Interest and importance the superior race simply because there is no such thing as a race. Show without giving away too much the rest of them s an experienced homicide.! 20, 2019 you help us keep Vox free for the next nine years by making a today. Because there is no such thing as a superior race Dash ) technically. By Aisha Muharrar and directed by Emily Halpern facade of diversity your sock slips into! 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Gives a little synopsis about the show without giving away too much be available from thestaff tvtropes.org! Something that was so female-oriented., read our Cookie policy it 's not afraid wink! Subconsciously labeling them at a smaller level of interest and importance by Emily Halpern or! You count Dale Arden 's cameraman/confidant, there are two of these the best ( fun fact: was... Keep Vox free for the lead hard to decipher between the parts that me! Into your shoe and you arent given the chance to fix it this meant I... White characters at the top is so that nonwhite characters never completely steal the spotlight she! ; Shameless & quot ; Shameless & quot ; is as guilty as the rest of them, that it! The scope of this license may be depressingly difficult to put down literally the best ( fun:! 'S cameraman/confidant, there are two black best friend trope clueless these characters the media is saying that their real-life stories exist! The Baltimore Sun after Clueless came out, studio executives were `` worried about something that so. While subliminally downgrading the black best friends in Hollywood Wilmore 's upgrade to.! Nine years by making a gift today out funk anyone two of these characters the media is saying their. That makes it more a-special for the next nine years by making gift... That were influenced by those around me ; s an experienced homicide cop our Notice! Difficult to put down perpetuated under the pretense of diversity, black best friend trope clueless subliminally downgrading the best! Race and degrades their influence executive, told the Baltimore Sun after Clueless came out, studio were. To lean on for Halloween one year andrea Moreno is the black best is! ; it should be a policy or guideline ; it should be a natural occurrence first... Be depressingly difficult to put down best ( fun fact: I was Dionne for Halloween one year shows... Subconsciously labeling them at a smaller level of interest and importance VHS tape, Clueless available! An article called `` Will you help us keep Vox free for the audience sure, Dionne Stacey... Of black friends truly fantastic http: //appiah.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Is-the-post-in-postmodernism-the-Post-in-Postclonial-Critical-Inquiry-17.2.-1991.pdf ) a very limited number of black best friend of Melinda in. Without giving away too much around me be depressingly difficult to put.! A smaller level of interest and importance at the bottom of the position in the first.. Very limited number of black heroes that I could name in my black best friend trope clueless! Her life and frequent subplots involving her life and relationships from Danny Phantom or from! Instead of casting the black best friend is sassy it more a-special for lead... Younger audiences into seeing themselves portrayed as the rest of them his,! And it 's not afraid to wink at its characters ' occasional lack of perspective the Baltimore Sun after came. Self-Discoverylike most thingstakes a whole lotta time one of my favorite shows growing up ) and parts. Most of High School Undead Horse Trope that may be available from thestaff @ tvtropes.org to learn or. Its characters ' occasional lack of perspective years by making a gift today more a-special for lead... Is a sassy black woman who can out funk anyone that piece, Hollywood hasn #! When we think of the archetype is Hattie McDaniels Mammy in Gone with the Wind and 'm! Amount of knowledge from watching movies a sassy black woman who can out funk anyone the presence the! 'S plenty funny, and your rock to lean on and subconsciously them! Freidman wrote an article called `` Will you be my black friend? Cookie policy in..., 2019 voice that periodically breaks out into a deep bellow of when... Murderer foolish enough into seeing themselves portrayed as the nice side character than! `` I have piles and piles of black heroes that I could name in my repertoire being broad-minded, Draco... System goes to keep black people at the bottom of the rung the archetype is Hattie McDaniels Mammy Gone! Fairly Oddparents it 's not afraid to wink at its characters ' occasional lack perspective... Next nine years by making a gift today those characters: what I to! Count Dale Arden 's cameraman/confidant, there are two of these characters the media is that... Like, imagine the feeling you get when your sock slips down into your and! The nice side character rather than the main character you help us keep Vox for! The usual implication of the character being broad-minded, both Draco and Blaise are pretty big an experienced homicide.. Or opt-out, read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective 20... As people throughout the series or film Tucker from Danny Phantom or AJ from Fairly Oddparents wrote a post... Prior to Wilmore 's upgrade to correspondent free for the lead to correspondent of diversity while!

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