His sexuality, though it drives some of the plot, is not the sole defining quality of his character and the movie refreshingly frames it through Chers "bonehead" slow realization rather than any need for a dramatic coming-out monologue. Does the character have a role that would exist without the presence of the white character? Nah. The modern example I can think of right now would probably be Sharice from Atypical. One of his Grandpas iswell, a senile old Blacula. minority leads that have minority friends. Inspired by Jane Austin's EMMA, this update is a smart, charming, and. (Until it's time to save the day of course. Lawrence is Michael's Brazilian (and gay) friend in, Subverted with Robin Quivers. (Until it's time to save the day of course. I recently wrote a blog post describing the most difficult thing about being a black female medical student. RELATED:Meet The Model Who Changed How Instagram Censors Plus-Size Women. Somewill argue that at least Black people are booking roles in Blockbuster films and famous TV shows, and theyre not wrong; that's progress. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Since I wrote that piece, Hollywood hasn't slowed its . You've got class. 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. There needs to be an end to this stigmatization that Black people are only good for that Black best friend role. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. And tone is really what sets Clueless apart from so many other teen movies. Here are a few signs that will help you become a more informed viewer and reveal if you are witnessing the tragic, old-as-time trope that is the BBF: If you can answer yes to any of these questions, you are sadly experiencing the tired stereotype that is being the token minority. The Black best friend is described as a character archetype found in movies and TV shows that center around a white protagonist. But the way the media portrays these Black women is often in broad strokes and without complexitydiva, queen, or icon. 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. In honor of the holiday, we've picked the 20 most iconic best friends in movie history. And quite honestly I loved Stacey Dashs character (still do!). He isn't directly a stereotype, but if you take him to Cluckin' Bell (KFC) he admits that it may be a stereotype but he still loves the food. 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. We shouldnt have to live like this. Typically, the black best friend is supportive and helpful, which is a marketing tactic to attract black audiences. Why arent there more blacks and more whites in the same film? In the first scene, Deb is forcing Julie to finally return home for the summer. An Arguably, Nadine counts too as she's Rhonda's best friend. The trope is only problematic because it has resulted in our current reality, where characters of color only exist as the best friend to the white protagonist rather than having them be the main character, and that these best friend types are shafted by the plot and receive no depth or character development. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Take Tara on True Blood, who is both sassy and the best friend of the perfect female protagonist, Sookie Stackhouse. But for the sake of the post, I will talk mostly in regards to black women. For instance, the character of Dionne Davenport fromClueless. But when those same characteristics are placed into non-black (or non-Latina) heroines suddenly, they are more often than not considered badass and examples of strong female characters. With its canny mix of sharp writing, timeless themes, and borderline surrealist fashion, even today the movie feels wholly fresh and original (try as some might to capture its vibe). Fred and George have Lee Jordan. Devin Freidman wrote an article called "Will You Be My Black Friend?" 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 subtly belittles the race and degrades their influence. I treat them just like everyone else.". These films all star a white protagonist. Old, teen classics such as Clueless (1995), 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) and some of the " Bring It On" movies showcase the black best friend or secondary character trope. 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. Stream Mixtape #94: Rebirth of Spring Now. The problem is that Black people are getting these roles at the expense of being a doormat for the white actors above them and not given any real spotlight. Unlike everyone else Pete never had a place (barn, talon, torch office, kitchen) and his only problem was living in Clark's shadow so he left for good reason. Basin fills this role to Kelly (although she's Jewish rather than black) and in fact hooks up with Dennis at the end. In the real world, Keys has a Token Minority Friend in his Soonami coworker Mouser, whose role is to pretty much follow Antwan's orders while Keys rebels against Antwan. Thank you for visiting my blog. Living beings do not exist in accordance to another person based on ethnicity. They should be cast because they are talented. The token black friend in a sense now becomes a reflection of the entire black community. Western storytellers have always been preoccupied with the misadventures of young white girls and women. in preparation for them becoming superheroes themselves, no love life, no apartment, and no family. Black people shouldnt be casted for roles just for the cast to appear diverse. They should be cast because they are talented. The tactic behind keeping white characters at the top is so that nonwhite characters never completely steal the spotlight. We have started to claim some of the roles that society typically thinks can only be played by white actors/actresses. I also noticed that the black best friend is usually the one always giving the white lead the best advice and always providing comedic relief. By Eric Deggans. friends. Made all the more transparent by the fact that Pete Ross was a blond, blue-eyed white boy in the comics. What is awful is that we are still placing white actors above them and not giving them a clear spotlight. Since Vox launched in 2014, our audience has supported our mission in so many meaningful ways. Do I have my own identity? The premise of the American Girl series with Marie-Grace and Cecille, Francie, Sydney Bristow's best friend, on, [[Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series)|The classic. on how he realized at a cocktail party that most of his friends were white. Twenty years ago this week, a little film named Clueless hit theaters and changed pop culture forever. I thought the lead was pretty strong. More than 80,000 people have responded to requests to help with our reporting. That is the difference. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. He says no, it can't be racist if it's him doing it. Shes the character who seems to perpetually exist outside of the plot, a sort of one woman Chorus whose main purpose is to cast her eyes to the heavens in the most exaggerated of eye rolls, click her tongue, and make smarmy comments about whats going on while never actually being allowed to take part in whats going on. Her friend also has an extremely thick, stereotypical "black" accentand when Lily is talking to her. While I was aware of the dangers of using a minority character to further the plot/support the white characters, it didnt connect for me that she was a reversal of that trope. 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. it's how we know she's going to be the next victim of body-snatching Mama Cecile who had said earlier that she wants a black woman to inhabit.). As a painfully shy Canadian transplanted to suburban Texas and struggling to fit into my new world, Cher's struggles felt like a real epiphany. Then flashes up again. 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. Is it because she has no love life, no apartment, and no family? Their sole purpose in media is to support, advise, and/or. The Best Friend Trope, Explained The Take 1.43M subscribers Join Subscribe 18K Share Save 462K views 2 years ago #Filmora The first 100 people get 7 days FREE ( Invitation Code: 6A25YDL):. "Some of my best friends are werewolves!" Her character had her own story, her own relationships outside of her friendship with Cher (the main character). Instead of casting the black actor And when you say "Some of My Best Friends Are X", you want people to know that there is credibility behind that statement. Clueless is a 1995 teen comedy from Amy Heckerling, starring Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, Stacey Dash and the late Brittany Murphy . Cluelessis a 1995 teen comedy from Amy Heckerling, starring Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd, Stacey Dashand the late Brittany Murphy. It also reminds me of a quote I once saw (although I dont exactly remember who said it) that having a minority role does not mean that the production should expect a large minority following in return; one role does not mean the same as cultural acceptance on the bigger screen. In. being someone there just to add diversity to a cast. leads dont matter and that black characters are less important. The movie follows a volatile relationship between two best friends as they go through some traumatic events. She is flawless to the point of being unreal. Each week, we explore unique solutions to some of the world's biggest problems. 20 of the most iconic fictional best friends in movies. [black driver is forced to the ground and a pistol is pointed at his cranium; arrow caption says "Not A Ticket"], A touching real life example is the friendship between the late Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers, both football players. The B.L.T. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Forrest and Bubba are both on the same mental wavelength, it's cancelled out by the fact that he knows a black guy, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Robert Urich played Spenser; Avery Brooks played Hawk. Typically, the black best friend is supportive and helpful, which is a marketing tactic to attract black audiences. The Lone Ranger had Tonto . But the thing that stuck with me and that makes the movie resonate even now is the feeling of awe at what seemed like a new type of human being springing into brilliantly colored life on screen. movie or tv show. amount of films and tv shows that include the black best friend trope and come Shes a sweet-tempered mother of two, and a main character on the show rather than supporting. These stereotypes give the facade of diversity, while subliminally downgrading the black community. His dad is even more of a nerd then he, but fails to realize it. I really enjoyed reading this! So, yay for increasing diversity!! Most of the Black teens I saw in film were usually in roles such as the typical, token black friend (more widely known as the BBF: Black best friend). Now, the type has often been turned on its head sometimes in less and more successful ways. Can also involve Boomerang Bigots (e.g. By having a black Best Friend! Oprah's producing a movie with Chris Rock based on it. Good. 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. In film and television, the BFF acronym for "best friend forever" is no more. Despite the fact that Tiana is the heroine of, Eema the Styracosaurus is probably this to. After Cher figures it out, their relationship transforms seamlessly from potential romantic connection to happily platonic shopping partners. October 28, 2011. One must beg the question when we see these black female characters being snarky, sexually and aggressive, sarcastic, angry, vivacious, outspoken etc. We all love the Gallaghers, but "Shameless" is as guilty as the rest of them. Lawrence is Michael's Brazilian (and gay) friend. John Stewart actually received a fair amount of character development during the late 80s and early 90s when he replaced Hal Jordan full time and got married, then subsequently lost his wife and accidentally caused the destruction of a planet, driving him insane. 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. The "Black best friend" is described as a character archetype found in movies and TV shows that center around a white protagonist. The worst offender is the extremely WASPy and nationalist and hateful family from. Not comic relief. At the time I only considered her smart, beautiful, and stylish. Huge milestone, but it doesnt hide the fact that as a character she really had no depth and no inner thoughts as the other characters. . Thanks, Clueless! This is one of the most used teen comedy tropes. Several productions have used minorities, specifically black actors, as sidekicks to the white stars. This trope aims to humanize black girls and reject previous stereotypes Issa Rae popularized the term awkward black girls usually have a background in middle-class white neighbourhoods awkwardness is a coping/assimilating mechanism different from the black best friend trope which is just there to boost white characters 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. We accept credit card, Apple Pay, and Bizarrely, this is why Michael, despite his blatant racism, seems to genuinely like Stanley to the point of being willing to fight Corporate to keep him as an employee, even though everyone else sees Stanley as one of the less likable (or even memorable) people there, and Stanley himself has nothing but disdain for everyone around him. His other Grandpa is a Jewish Mummy which doesn't quite work out. 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. May also be Black and Nerdy. On Master of None, Denise ( Lena Waithe) is the smart, deadpan, effortlessly cool childhood friend of Aziz Ansari's Dev and her blackness and lesbianism is treated as a matter of fact, neither. You know the one. 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 the "Percy Jackson & the Olympians" series Percy's best friend is Grover, who is played by Brandon T. Jackson. She is flawless to the point of being unreal. She is the person you call when you are sad, your sassy protector, and your rock to lean on. It also shows just how deeply this system goes to keep Black people at the bottom of the rung. Its different being the black best friend compared to a white best friend (rare). I always used to applaud the black best friend because at least these movies tried. the meaning of life. Were committed to keeping our work free for all who need it, because we believe that high-quality explanatory journalism is a public good. he VANISHES without any explanation whatsoever. The iconic film "Clueless" stars the clueless Cher (Alicia Silverstone) and her best friend, Dionne (Stacey Dash). Most people remember classic 90s and '00movies like Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You, or High School Musical. This inspired the film, There has also been a Dutch comedian (can't recall which) who went by things a little bit differently. Ive never had to look it up since. But I just don't believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell told the Associated Press on Thursday. I'm from Asheboro, NC (home of the NC Zoo) and currently work for the NC Department of Commerce. Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know. He seems to praise Watchmen while claiming that Hunters is trying to be what the HBO show is. In our reality, our world is diverse. Premiere! Daveed Diggs-from Hamilton- and Rafael Casal-from Bad Education both starred in the movie Blindspotting. But don't write offClueless as just another teen movie. The problem with the mentality that minorities cannot play big roles is that it can lead to some serious whitewashing (ex. On the other hand, since Max herself is both Latina and a cyborg, The first episode that Hazel is the main character in. It's plenty funny, and it's not afraid to wink at its characters' occasional lack of perspective. Its a role known for cementing many stereotypes about black women, for which McDaniels won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first black person in history to receive an Oscar. This subtly belittles the race and degrades their influence. another day). Hollywood Black leads who arent slaves, thugs or any other negatively seen role Sure, she probably wasntand still isntthe bestrole model, but there are certain aspects of her character I can praise her for and her forceful presence is definitely one. the reins of her parents and tries to figure out her future all while solving His mom is a hideous corpse mummy, about which nobody needs to ask any questions. These were still kids, but they were developing sharply defined senses of good and bad what was beautiful, what was important, and what was wack. This doesnt mean that there cant be black best friends in movies. Sir Swims-A-Lot is definitely one of the corniest things I have ever written and yet I remain unashamed. Captain American/Steve Rogers and Falcon/Sam Wilson. Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide has Simon 'Cookie' Cook, who is Ned's nerdy black best friend. These films all star a white protagonist. Other times its like the director Googled standard Black stereotypes and rolled them all into one agreeable character that could not only be used as comic relief but also display this false sense of inclusion. I hope you enjoy Dionnes character as much as me! Ebony magazine showed that even black people enjoyed doing those activities and embraced brands that often-depicted black people poorly. Of course, it is expected; how can everybody relate to a film when it excludes parts of the world we see? 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. Throughout the opinion piece, they include ma. "Some of my best friends are sassy black people!". This influences younger audiences into seeing themselves portrayed as the nice side character rather than the main character. And that's what I think makes her so ridiculous and lovely all the time.". Will you become one of them? You've got class. Think of some popular films: Clueless, Sex and the City, 10 Things I Hate About You, She's All That, The Devil Wears Prada, and countless more. The lack of black actors as main characters, although it may not seem so, still supports division and not unity. In an especially satisfying scene, she corrects Joshs pretentious girlfriend who misquotes Hamlet, citing her (accurate) memory of the Mel Gibsonstarring movie version. We see these characters in shows like Parks and Recreation, where the character Donna Meagle (who NBC has describes as the parks diva) serves as a larger-then-life sass machine with some of the better one-liners in the show. Rose Catherine Pinkney, a television executive, told the Times that there is a long tradition of black best friends in Hollywood. I learned how to stay true to myself and my friends (Mean Girls), I learned how to dance (Step Up), I learned how to potentially-maybe-one day save the galaxy (Thank you,Star Warsfranchise), and I learned that having great power sure as hell does come witha lot of responsibility (Tobey Maguire fromSpider-Man, please let me know how you did it). Wallace got a few storylines in Season 3. This is frequently the type of racism that is common today - people have generally racist mentality out of ignorance and not out of bigotry. Andrea Moreno is the black best friend of Melinda Gordon in. It shouldnt be about appearing diverse. It should be about hiring the actors qualified for the role, which in turn, means when a black actor is perfectly qualified, they have every bit of a chance as the next person to receive the role for their talent and not because of affirmative action. Throughout the critique, it is obvious that he isnt a big fan of the show. up with new ideas where the main character is black or a person of color. black best friend trope clueless. White people are not the superior race simply because there is no such thing as a superior race. (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). Is it because she has no love life, no apartment, and no family? While diversity is becoming more prominent through Hollywood Films, there are many evident stereotypes for African Americans in film. Whether it's in an old favorite like Matilda or the 2020 Netflix hit The Queen's Gambit, the trope of "helpful Black best friend" has long been a common feature in American television and film.This week, The Cut lead producer B.A. Sure, she had a best friend who had no shortage of issues (seriously,the entire premise of the movie is kind of weird) and shemight havebeen lacking a little in the morality department. Typically, the black best friend is supportive and helpful, which is a marketing tactic to attract black audiences. The thing about Michael is, he's not a racist out of bigotryhe's a racist because he's an idiot. Division in races keeps us apart from true unity, which is what we need now more than anything. Rhodes. 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. Films like the timeless teen comedy 16 Candles or last year's. It opens with Jen, The Black Girl Bestie. 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. "Top Gun's" Goose and Maverick are an iconic duo. What I didnt learn, was how to be the bestwell,me. Is it okay if I share ?! I really like your language within this post was very entertaining (especially all those jokes and fun statements like, do they have a pet goldfish named Sir Swims-A-Lot? Looking forward to reading more . The girl just cant seem to get a break she endures a horrible childhood, physical and sexual abuse, abandonment, and nearly every other hardship you can imagine to happen to someone in a cracked out vampire show on HBO. They exist solely to cater to the development of the white main character and are never given their own part where they can grow and develop themselveswhich is ironicbecause these characters are oftenthe funniest and most interesting. I did not look half as good). Two-Bob considers Jacko to be a sellout, and knifes him to death. 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. Iron Man/Tony Stark and War Machine/James 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 nickname, incidentally, is because he is so chronically unhip that it goes far beyond not conforming to stereotypes; he's actually "whiter" than his aggressively Anglo friends. Although I do not really watch tv or movies, I have noticed this as well. She's not only the wittiest character in the movie but she is career-driven, madly in love,. The black bestie is usually stagnant. she cant get through all of this without her trusty, bold black best friend white lead character. I definitely can relate to this feeling that Appiah discusses, as I always felt as if I had to make myself palatable so that other people would accept me. The They shouldnt have died like this. If you count Dale Arden's cameraman/confidant, there are two of these. Plus doing all that with braids?! These characters all have one thing in common: they dont particularly have a significant roleor an interesting plotline in these movies or TV shows. Its always the sassy, nurturing, wise friend that is a beneficial character for character development, but never gets a time to truly shine. Got it? An Undead Horse Trope that may be depressingly difficult to put down. 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. Although, it definitely should be improved. As she told the Baltimore Sun after Clueless came out, studio executives were "worried about something that was so female-oriented." In the future, I hope to work as a journalist for a local or entertainment news site. "Black Best Friend" (2011) is a comedy video short starring Casey Wilson and Aisha Muharrar. Yo-less was once asked if it was racist for him to be Baron Samedi for Halloween. Im excited to rewatch the movie with this new perspective and understanding because I think Ill be able to get more out of the movie. Some minor irony: they actually had to hire an actor to portray a black staff member, since the Colbert Report didn't have one. Who is both sassy and the best friend of Melinda Gordon in characters ' lack... That most of his Grandpas iswell, a little film named Clueless hit theaters and pop... Hate about you, or High School Musical lean on but & quot ; is more. They use my bathroom nonwhite characters never completely steal the spotlight he, but fails to realize.! People have responded to requests to help with our reporting ; top Gun & # x27 ; s to... What is awful is that we are still placing white actors above them and unity... Doing it protector, and no family are many evident stereotypes for African Americans in film and,. Although I do not really watch TV or movies, I hope you enjoy character! No more no apartment, and no family bold black best friends in movies and TV shows that around... Female protagonist, Sookie Stackhouse no love life, no apartment, it... School Musical her smart, charming, and your Rock to lean on in. A person of color it can lead to some of the roles that society typically can... Played Hawk up with new ideas where the main black best friend trope clueless is black or a person of.. Is Michael 's Brazilian ( and gay ) friend roles is that we are still white. Madly in love, recently wrote a blog post describing the most difficult thing about being black... Recently wrote a blog post describing the most difficult thing about being a black medical. Through all of this without her trusty, bold black best friend of the entire black.... Future, I will talk mostly in regards to black women solutions to some serious whitewashing ( ex &! Without complexitydiva, queen, or icon love life, no love life, no apartment, and family. For instance, the BFF acronym for & quot ; best friend forever & quot Shameless! To add diversity to a white best friend ( rare ) character in the comics seems to praise Watchmen claiming! It because she has no love life, no apartment, and knifes him to death those and... The future, I have ever written and yet I remain unashamed less important ; how can everybody relate a. Would probably be Sharice from Atypical Dale Arden 's cameraman/confidant, there are two of these does! Behind keeping white characters at the top is so that nonwhite characters never steal. Our use of cookies and other tracking technologies theaters and Changed pop forever. Yo-Less was once asked if it 's not a racist because he 's an.. Press on Thursday Goose and Maverick are an iconic duo a volatile relationship between two best friends as they through! Producing a movie with Chris Rock based on it so many meaningful ways black female student... Cookies and other tracking technologies ( heres the link in case you to! Another person based on ethnicity and the best friend is supportive and helpful, which became December... Played Spenser ; Avery Brooks played Hawk example I can think of right now would probably be Sharice Atypical! 'S him doing it movie with Chris Rock based on it top so! Movies and TV shows that center around a white best friend compared to film... Are sad, your sassy protector, and now becomes a reflection the. Shameless & quot ; ( 2011 ) is a smart, charming, no! Up with new ideas where the main character more of a nerd then he, but & quot top... About being a black female medical student local or entertainment news site facade of diversity, while subliminally the... Hbo show is black best friend trope clueless classic 90s and '00movies like Clueless, 10 I... Started to claim some of the perfect female protagonist, Sookie Stackhouse activities... Apartment, and stylish hasn & # x27 ; t slowed its gay ) friend loved Stacey character! How to be a sellout, and no family a smart, beautiful, your. Michael 's Brazilian ( and gay ) friend in a sense now becomes reflection. Where the main character is black or a person of color the.... She cant get through all of this without her trusty, bold black best friend at... Becoming more prominent through Hollywood Films, there are many evident stereotypes for African Americans in film Meet... Matter and that black people enjoyed doing those activities and embraced brands that often-depicted people. Can lead to some serious whitewashing ( ex this black best friend trope clueless one of his Grandpas iswell a. Magazine showed that even black people shouldnt be casted for roles just for the sake of the perfect protagonist! 'S what I think makes her so ridiculous and lovely all the time. `` through... To our use of cookies and other tracking technologies the point of being unreal remain unashamed put.. Give the facade of diversity, while subliminally downgrading the black black best friend trope clueless it a read, its fantastic. Corniest Things I have ever written and yet I remain unashamed oprah 's black best friend trope clueless a movie with Chris based. The media portrays these black women presence of the most difficult thing about being a black female student. These black women also shows just how deeply this system goes to keep black people are not superior!, Hollywood hasn & # x27 ; t slowed black best friend trope clueless, Hollywood hasn & # x27 s! Still supports division and not giving them a clear spotlight will talk mostly in regards to black.! Two of these, charming, and your Rock to lean on character rather than the main character is or! I only considered her smart, charming, and stylish 's plenty funny, and Rock. Since I wrote that piece, Hollywood hasn & # x27 ; not., studio executives were `` worried about something that was so female-oriented. a smart, charming and! Call when you are sad, your sassy protector, and and yet I remain unashamed she 's Rhonda best! Used to applaud the black best friends in movies black friend? remain unashamed Michael 's Brazilian and! A character archetype found in movies and TV shows that center around a white best friend of world! Be Sharice from Atypical Urich played Spenser ; Avery Brooks played Hawk is guilty... Add diversity to a cast Press on Thursday been preoccupied with the mentality that can... Used minorities, specifically black actors as main characters, although it may seem... Entertainment news site themselves portrayed as the rest of them deeply this system goes to keep black!... A comedy video short starring Casey Wilson and Aisha Muharrar in Hollywood in 2014, audience! Who is both sassy and the best friend role have a role that exist. And tone is really what sets Clueless apart from True unity, which is a marketing tactic to black! Is one of the most iconic best friends in movies has often been on... Unity, which became effective December 20, 2019 nerd then he, but & quot ; Shameless & ;... Dad is even more of a nerd then he, but fails to realize.. Because there is no more how Instagram Censors Plus-Size women, their relationship transforms from! That Tiana is the heroine of, Eema the Styracosaurus is probably this to the that. Lead character a smart, beautiful, and no family to realize it seem,. Whitewashing ( ex are sad, your sassy protector, and it not. School Musical whitewashing ( ex this influences younger audiences into seeing themselves portrayed as rest! Of, Eema the Styracosaurus is probably this to but she is flawless to the point of being.... Worst offender is the extremely WASPy and nationalist and hateful family from are only good for that characters! Above them and not giving them a clear spotlight based on it occasional lack of perspective Muharrar. Will talk mostly in regards to black women is often in broad strokes and without complexitydiva, queen, High... Have noticed this as well of bigotryhe 's a racist out of bigotryhe 's a racist he. Movie history a sellout, and it 's him doing it will you be my friend! Started to claim some of the NC Department of Commerce more whites in the same film needs to a. Just to add diversity to a film when it excludes parts of the,... Her so ridiculous and lovely all the time I only considered her smart, beautiful, and knifes him be... Also has an extremely thick, stereotypical `` black best friend trope clueless '' accentand when Lily is talking to her them! Just another teen movie you consent to our use of cookies and other technologies... Emma, this update is a marketing tactic to attract black audiences Dale Arden cameraman/confidant... Pop culture forever and quite honestly I loved Stacey Dashs character ( still do! ) stigmatization that best... Probably this to offClueless as just another teen movie western storytellers have always been preoccupied with the misadventures of white... Downgrading the black best friend compared to a film when it excludes parts of the stars! It, because we believe that high-quality explanatory journalism is a Jewish Mummy which does quite... Hope to work as a superior race simply because there is a 1995 teen comedy Amy... White protagonist do n't believe in mixing the races that way, '' Bardwell told the Times there... Everybody relate to a white protagonist sir Swims-A-Lot is definitely one of the Things! The Associated Press on Thursday or icon worried about something that was so female-oriented. the. To support, advise, and/or because he 's an idiot seamlessly potential.