Hollywood has a big problem with profiting off of Black pain.
Movies based on traumatic events in the Black community are popular in Hollywood. They capitalize off of race-specific experiences like poverty, slavery, and police brutality, making blockbuster films that bring in millions of dollars. To date, these movies have made their own genre, Black pain, that will be critically acclaimed by the predominantly White Academy. Our stories have been assigned to us, and the film industry has expected us to keep to them.
Hollywood has a long history using the trauma of slavery and leveraging Black pain to create profitable movies and shows like 12 Years a Slave, For Colored Girls, and When They See Us. These movies portray Black people as victims rather than victors in a continuous battle for economic and social freedom. These movies are usually created by white producers and directors, funded by white-owned film companies, and then nominated by whites for a category in an award ceremony. This causes them to receive a lot of backlash because they are directly profiting from the emotions of Black people.
These movies employ Black actors to relive traumatic events. This can leave those actors grappling with difficult emotions after filming. Having to put themselves in situations that their ancestors may have experienced can take a mental toll, especially when it’s usually the same actors that are employed in trauma movies. Algee Smith, for example, who played in When They See Us and Detroit, said, “I was obviously in a very emotional place. However, it was a very honest place. I feel like I’ve played so many roles where I’ve either died as a young black teenager or where it’s been something that hasn’t been edifying a black teenager or a black man at all. And so, I was like, for myself, I’m tired of playing those roles and I said ‘I’m done with it.’” This portrayal of Black people in media also affects Black audiences by shoving these kinds of movies and TV shows that repeatedly show what Black people have gone through or are currently going through.
Movies based on traumatic events in the Black community are popular in Hollywood. They capitalize off of race-specific experiences like poverty, slavery, and police brutality, making blockbuster films that bring in millions of dollars. To date, these movies have made their own genre, Black pain, that will be critically acclaimed by the predominantly White Academy. Our stories have been assigned to us, and the film industry has expected us to keep to them.
Hollywood has a long history using the trauma of slavery and leveraging Black pain to create profitable movies and shows like 12 Years a Slave, For Colored Girls, and When They See Us. These movies portray Black people as victims rather than victors in a continuous battle for economic and social freedom. These movies are usually created by white producers and directors, funded by white-owned film companies, and then nominated by whites for a category in an award ceremony. This causes them to receive a lot of backlash because they are directly profiting from the emotions of Black people.
These movies employ Black actors to relive traumatic events. This can leave those actors grappling with difficult emotions after filming. Having to put themselves in situations that their ancestors may have experienced can take a mental toll, especially when it’s usually the same actors that are employed in trauma movies. Algee Smith, for example, who played in When They See Us and Detroit, said, “I was obviously in a very emotional place. However, it was a very honest place. I feel like I’ve played so many roles where I’ve either died as a young black teenager or where it’s been something that hasn’t been edifying a black teenager or a black man at all. And so, I was like, for myself, I’m tired of playing those roles and I said ‘I’m done with it.’” This portrayal of Black people in media also affects Black audiences by shoving these kinds of movies and TV shows that repeatedly show what Black people have gone through or are currently going through.
Even though these movies are necessary to inform and raise awareness, there is a surplus of them. These movies are able to educate people of other races that don't know what Black people have to go through on a daily basis and approach uncomfortable and difficult topics. It shows historical events through a different lens where there is no way to deny what has happened in the past like the devastating effects of slavery. But also, constantly showing Black people in this light creates a negative view of their way of life, making it seem that there is nothing more to our lives than trauma, grief, and violence.
There are more Black trauma movies like Moonlight that explores Black masculinity, Get Out that puts Black people in horror movies where they’re not automatically killed off, or even Hidden Figures, which follows three historical black women following their dreams in NASA. Another movie starring black people, Black Panther, is a perfect example of how Black people in movies can have pride in their culture and hope for the future while still making money at the box office. Stories like this benefit and uplift the community while shows and movies that highlight trauma do not assist Black people in escaping the horrors of life.
Allowing Black storytellers to demonstrate a new age of storytelling that incorporates themes such as identity, culture, pride, love, heroes, and terror will greatly empower audiences. It's just as important to have Black-led stories about our community's accomplishments, inspiration, and celebrations come to life as it is to witness Black-led stories about the difficult themes that are often tougher to discuss off-screen.
There are more Black trauma movies like Moonlight that explores Black masculinity, Get Out that puts Black people in horror movies where they’re not automatically killed off, or even Hidden Figures, which follows three historical black women following their dreams in NASA. Another movie starring black people, Black Panther, is a perfect example of how Black people in movies can have pride in their culture and hope for the future while still making money at the box office. Stories like this benefit and uplift the community while shows and movies that highlight trauma do not assist Black people in escaping the horrors of life.
Allowing Black storytellers to demonstrate a new age of storytelling that incorporates themes such as identity, culture, pride, love, heroes, and terror will greatly empower audiences. It's just as important to have Black-led stories about our community's accomplishments, inspiration, and celebrations come to life as it is to witness Black-led stories about the difficult themes that are often tougher to discuss off-screen.
Betty rivers
