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Magic Minorities

post #1 of 132
6/12/12 at 9:04am
Thread Starter 

You know the type, minority members who exist solely to help, inspire, or advise whitey. There's the classic Magic Negro, The Wise but Inscrutable Asian (Haven't decided if Mr. Miyagi is a Magic Minority), The Flighty but loyal Homosexual, The Wise Retard, The Brave and Inspiring Cripple(my people!), and so many others.

This came up last night while I was watching American History X and there was a whopping two Magic Negroes, the old High School Teacher that helps Norton change his ways and the dude in prison that Norton bonds with.(How do you end racism? Wise and fast talking black people and a good and hard ass-raping.) Both are there just to help Norton's character and other white characters be better people.

So, other examples?


Edited by Cameron Hughes - 6/12/12 at 9:37am
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post #2 of 132
6/12/12 at 9:09am

Got plenty of examples, but I'm just gonna leave this here:

 

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post #3 of 132
6/12/12 at 9:24am
Thread Starter 

Will Smith is literally magical in The Legend of Bagger Vance as he helps Matt Damon be a better golfer.
 

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post #4 of 132
6/12/12 at 9:29am

Gigli features a retarded kid named Brian who loves "The Baywatch". He loves The Baywatch because, actual quote: "It makes my penis sneeze." Somehow, Ben Affleck and J-Lo are so enamored by this kid that they end up dropping him off on the set of Baywatch, where he dances around as an extra. Cut to Ben Affleck with a big smile on his face, signaling that this event has made him a better person. God, what a uniquely horrible movie.

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post #5 of 132
6/12/12 at 9:32am

Danny Glover in Grand Canyon is a non-magical Magic Negro.

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post #6 of 132
6/12/12 at 9:38am

Can we also include The "Insane" Person Who Is The Only Person Who Speaks The Truth, a la Michael Shannon in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD?  

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post #7 of 132
6/12/12 at 9:47am

twilight-zone-movie-scatman.jpg

 

"I'll make you all...feel like childreeeeeeeeeen!"

 

*Rubs silver can in questionable manner*

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post #8 of 132
6/12/12 at 10:33am

The close-knit brood of Latino immigrants who make the cynical or downtrodden white guy understand the simple virtues of family.

 

End of Violence is the only one coming to mind right now, but I know I've seen it before.

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post #9 of 132
6/12/12 at 10:44am

I remember watching Crazy Stupid Love and taking note of Emma Stone's Asian friend who exists only to comment on Emma Stone's character's love life.  In the 90s, she would've been black.  

 

Such minor characters are essentially Maria Hill to Samuel L. Fury.  Just so they don't have to talk to themselves.

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post #10 of 132
6/12/12 at 10:51am
Thread Starter 

So, is Mr. Miyagi a Magic Minority?
 

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post #11 of 132
6/12/12 at 11:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cameron Hughes View Post

So, is Mr. Miyagi a Magic Minority?
 

 

Yes.  Dude could fucking HEAL muscle pains by rubbing his hands!

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post #12 of 132
6/12/12 at 11:48am

Don Cheadle in "The Family Man". I actually dig the movie. It's basically ripping off "It's A Wonderful Life", but I find Jimmy Stewart insufferable (yeah, I'm weird like that), so this movie is easier for me to watch than "It's A Wonderful Life". Any movie with that doofus and his annoying voice that's good (i.e. "Harvey", "Vertigo") succeeds in spite of him.

 

But I digress. "The Family Man" is seriously the best Brett Ratner movie. Yeah, it doesn't have much competition, but lack of originality notwithstanding, it's a very sweet and nicely acted flick. The cliché nature of Cheadle's character is disappointing, though.

 

Also, Denzel Washington in "The Preacher's Wife". Again, nice light entertainment, but the Denzel role fits right into this thread's inventory. And that's not a compliment (as inclusion in inventory threads tends to be).

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post #13 of 132
6/12/12 at 12:21pm

So basically Edward Zwick's filmography?

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post #14 of 132
6/12/12 at 12:22pm

Or most things based on a Stephen King book.

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post #15 of 132
6/12/12 at 1:01pm
Thread Starter 

john-coffey.jpg"What do you mean, bawse?"

Quote:
Originally Posted by AtomTastic View Post

Or most things based on a Stephen King book.

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post #16 of 132
6/12/12 at 1:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cameron Hughes View Post

So, is Mr. Miyagi a Magic Minority?
 

 

In the first film, yes. I think he's significantly humanized and developed in the second film to no longer qualify.

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post #17 of 132
6/12/12 at 1:47pm

The supporting cast of The Last Airbender, if you can even call them "supporting".  My favorite example is the joyous, upbeat African village, whose just-now-been-liberated members uplift the spirits of their white saviors with a tribal dance, right before the village mystic appears to provide enlightenment:

 

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post #18 of 132
6/12/12 at 2:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by FilmNerdJamie View Post

twilight-zone-movie-scatman.jpg

 

"I'll make you all...feel like childreeeeeeeeeen!"

 

*Rubs silver can in questionable manner*

 

It might be easier to list Scatman Crothers rolls where he doesn't play to this trope.

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post #19 of 132
6/12/12 at 2:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ben Grimm View Post

 

It might be easier to list Scatman Crothers rolls where he doesn't play to this trope.

 

 

6a0120a721c2d7970b01676261041a970b-320wi

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post #20 of 132
6/12/12 at 2:46pm

Jazz drove Massa Spike around and taught him about cool music.  DENIED.

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post #21 of 132
6/12/12 at 3:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MichaelM View Post

 

In the first film, yes. I think he's significantly humanized and developed in the second film to no longer qualify.

 

Not buying it.  Mr. Miyagi is a well-developed, fleshed out character in The Karate Kid.  As Daniel's mentor he uses creative teaching methods to impart real skill ("wax on, wax off"), tricking Daniel into learning.  He's not teaching wire-fu.  Daniel's fascination with Mr. Miyagi is one of cultural exchange encouraged by self-preservation.  We learn about the death of his son and understand Daniel's role as a surrogate.  Even the healing of Daniel's knee injury, which appears magical, can be attributed to screenwriting shorthand for Eastern healing practices.

 

What, exactly, is magical about Mr. Miyagi?


Edited by ZebraMajor - 6/12/12 at 6:04pm
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post #22 of 132
6/12/12 at 4:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Draco Senior View Post

The supporting cast of The Last Airbender, if you can even call them "supporting".  My favorite example is the joyous, upbeat African village, whose just-now-been-liberated members uplift the spirits of their white saviors with a tribal dance, right before the village mystic appears to provide enlightenment:

 

Don't you mean "bend the spirits of their white saviors"?

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post #23 of 132
6/12/12 at 4:50pm

Jesus Christ, that fucking movie...

 

Just UGLY decisions all around.

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post #24 of 132
6/12/12 at 4:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Naisu Baddi View Post

Don Cheadle in "The Family Man". I actually dig the movie. It's basically ripping off "It's A Wonderful Life", but I find Jimmy Stewart insufferable (yeah, I'm weird like that), so this movie is easier for me to watch than "It's A Wonderful Life". Any movie with that doofus and his annoying voice that's good (i.e. "Harvey", "Vertigo") succeeds in spite of him.

But I digress. "The Family Man" is seriously the best Brett Ratner movie. Yeah, it doesn't have much competition, but lack of originality notwithstanding, it's a very sweet and nicely acted flick. The cliché nature of Cheadle's character is disappointing, though.

Also, Denzel Washington in "The Preacher's Wife". Again, nice light entertainment, but the Denzel role fits right into this thread's inventory. And that's not a compliment (as inclusion in inventory threads tends to be).

Ugh, I hated The Family Man, and I so wanted to like it. The message of the film was just so stupid, though.Sure, Nic's character might have been a little too cold blooded, but the whole moral was "Any white collar career ambition is evil. Only small town life with 2.3 kids and a nagging wife is worthwhile". It was just so Red Statey.
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post #25 of 132
6/13/12 at 8:02am

morgan-freeman-god.jpg

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post #26 of 132
6/13/12 at 10:23am

Magic Minority: Hannibal (2000)

 

As Hannibal is stalked by a Roma pickpocket through an open air market, the camera lingers on the face of an unidentified African immigrant as the man takes special notice of Dr Lecter. This is an echo of a moment in the novel where the Roma pickpocket Pazzi has contracted to lift Lecter's wallet flees in terror upon seeing his face, calling him "Shaitan" and covering the eyes of her infant. You see, civilized westerners are too caught up in their first world affairs to look at a man like Lecter and see the monster lurking underneath the polished, unassuming exterior.

263


Edited by Dr Harford - 6/13/12 at 10:34am
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post #27 of 132
6/13/12 at 10:23am

(double post)

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post #28 of 132
6/13/12 at 11:52am

All this talk about magic minorities and no talk of Elfs, Hobbits or Fairies? Racist, i say...wait, oh, i get it know.

Denzel Washington in "Heart Condition" might qualify as a Magic Negro.

Also, lets not forget the large, middle/lowe class latino family who teaches whitey about  family love and the wise native american who is connected to the spirit world.

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post #29 of 132
6/13/12 at 12:07pm

Have there been any minority characters who come out and say, yes, I am a magical Negro? Anything like that?

 

It's such an obvious trope that I'm stunned it's still a popular thing to employ in movies.

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post #30 of 132
6/13/12 at 12:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suitably Ironic Moniker View Post

 The message of the film was just so stupid, though.Sure, Nic's character might have been a little too cold blooded, but the whole moral was "Any white collar career ambition is evil. Only small town life with 2.3 kids and a nagging wife is worthwhile". It was just so Red Statey.

I don't know, I think that's reading into it a bit much. I thought it was as simple as this particular guy became a shallow, empty (in denial) asshole by just having flings and focusing on his career. He specifically would have been happier if he'd stayed with his high school sweetheart and lived the small town life with her.

 

It doesn't mean EVERYBODY has to live that life, it's just what was better for him. Unfortunately, he needed a "magic minority" to show him the way towards realizing this. And that's really the only major flaw I see in it.

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post #31 of 132
6/13/12 at 12:25pm

If it's okay to move outside of the movie world slightly, I thought it was pretty cool in Game Of Thrones that they'd have a paralyzed kid as one of the protagonists because really, how often do you get that in sci fi or fantasy? Mild spoilers (up to the end of the third book at least) here I guess:

 

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

but I couldn't help finding it slightly disappointing when he ends up developing super wolf powers and what have you. They more or less justify it with the story's internal logic (in the implication that all the Stark siblings have the latent ability, but haven't developed it like him), but it still felt a bit close to that old cliche of the character that has a disability but also some exceptional ability to make up for it, as if they'd be useless otherwise and need to justify themselves or something.

 

Also count me in with those who think The Family Guy is a perfectly watchable bit of feel-good shmaltz. Kind of interesting that it comes from Ratner, who strikes me as being exactly the kind of guy Cage's character is at the very beginning.

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post #32 of 132
6/13/12 at 12:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gabe T View Post

Have there been any minority characters who come out and say, yes, I am a magical Negro? Anything like that?

 

It's such an obvious trope that I'm stunned it's still a popular thing to employ in movies.

Pointing out the TOKEN BLACK GUY trope in Not Another Teen Movie doesn't seem to have stopped it from still being used in some way.

 

But I don't recall seeing a movie that calls out the Magical Negro trope.

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post #33 of 132
6/13/12 at 1:03pm

Didn't Mr. T have a role in "Not Another Teen Movie" as a janitor who gives advice? I think that was basically a variation on the "Magical Negro", albeit a more meta/comedic one.

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post #34 of 132
6/13/12 at 1:05pm

Oh man, you're totally right.  I forgot about him in that movie.  I'm trying to recall if the movie explicitly called him out as that trope, but he's certainly used as one.

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post #35 of 132
6/13/12 at 1:11pm

Mr. T also gets used to similarly winking Magical Negro effect in Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, though the film ramps up how very much he loves his son (continually rubbing salt in the wound Flint feels from the lack of love expressed by his father) to such a level that it becomes nearly satirical. Which is to say that Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is AWESOME.

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post #36 of 132
6/13/12 at 1:18pm

GOD I LOVE THAT MOVIE.

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post #37 of 132
6/13/12 at 1:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ryoken View Post
the wise native american who is connected to the spirit world.

 

Yes. Also the magical Aborigine.

 

Although right now my brain is not working properly and I can't think of a single good example of either.

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post #38 of 132
6/13/12 at 1:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ryoken View Post

Also, lets not forget the large, middle/lowe class latino family who teaches whitey about  family love

 

We didn't. smile.gif

 

 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by bendrix View Post

The close-knit brood of Latino immigrants who make the cynical or downtrodden white guy understand the simple virtues of family.

 

End of Violence is the only one coming to mind right now, but I know I've seen it before.

 
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post #39 of 132
6/14/12 at 4:30am

Can anyone think of an example of a Magical Caucasian? I know there has to be one!

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post #40 of 132
6/14/12 at 4:31am

Avatar?

 

I'm just being cute. Us white guys are expected to be wise and offering guidance anyway so there's nothing magic when we do it. Maybe The Blind Side is the closest thing for us?

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post #41 of 132
6/14/12 at 6:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Evi View Post

Can anyone think of an example of a Magical Caucasian? I know there has to be one!

 

"Dangerous Minds", maybe? White teacher reaches to street kids through music and poetry and Coolio's single?

Thats all i got.

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post #42 of 132
6/14/12 at 6:31am

Haven't seen Dangerous Minds but I suspect it's closer to that other cliche of the well meaning white person who immerses themselves in another race/culture/demographic, wins their trust and fixes all their problems. That's another thread in itself!

 

A proper Magical Caucasian I guess would have to be in a movie with a mostly non-white cast, where a white supporting character pops up occasionally to add some sage guidance. I bet there's at least one out there somewhere...

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post #43 of 132
6/14/12 at 6:46am

The trailer for the new Madea movie played before MIB III, and it looks like the entire movie is the inverse of Dangerous Minds with a heavy twist of Magical Minority. Black Man dressed as a Black Woman steps into Caucasian family and saves them with her common sense and wisdom.

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post #44 of 132
6/14/12 at 7:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul C View Post

A proper Magical Caucasian I guess would have to be in a movie with a mostly non-white cast, where a white supporting character pops up occasionally to add some sage guidance. I bet there's at least one out there somewhere...

 

Finding Forrester?

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post #45 of 132
6/14/12 at 7:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by stelios View Post

 

Finding Forrester?

 

I thought of that one, but I think Forrester has too much of his own arc to be considered a real Magical Caucasian.

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post #46 of 132
6/14/12 at 8:56am

Yeah, Finding Forrester doesn't count, as William's got his own deep rooted issues to really be more than a reluctant mentor.

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post #47 of 132
6/14/12 at 8:58am

In movies, Caucasians are almost ALWAYS magical.

 

With minorities, it's more... situational?

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post #48 of 132
6/14/12 at 8:59am

A proper Magical Caucasian I guess would have to be in a movie with a mostly non-white cast, where a white supporting character pops up occasionally to add some sage guidance. I bet there's at least one out there somewhere...

 

 

 

 

Neil Patrick Harris - Undercover Brother?

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post #49 of 132
6/14/12 at 9:07am

The magical doorman from That Thing You Do! actually breaks the fourth wall in the final shot of the movie. Love it!

 

If Mr. Miyagi counts in Karate Kid would Whistler in Blade count as a magical caucasian?

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post #50 of 132
6/14/12 at 9:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disciple_72 View Post

 

Yes. Also the magical Aborigine.

 

Although right now my brain is not working properly and I can't think of a single good example of either.

 

"Quigley Down Under".  "The Power of One".  Various incarnations of "The Lone Ranger".

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