FACTOID # 75: Two-thirds of the world's executions occur in China.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

FACTS & STATISTICS    Simple view

  1. Select countries to view: (hold down Control key and click to select several)

     

     

    Compare:

     

     
  1. Select fact or statistic: (* = graphable)

     

     

     

  2. (OPTIONAL) Compare to statistic: (both need to be graphable)

     

     

     

  3. View result as:

     

       
(OR) SEARCH ALL encyclopedia, stats & forums:   

Encyclopedia > Magical Negro

The magical negro (sometimes called the mystical negro, magic negro, or our Magical African-American Friend) a term generally used to describe a supporting, often mystical stock character in fiction who, by use of special insight or powers, helps the white protagonist get out of trouble. The word negro, now considered by many as archaic and offensive, is used intentionally to suggest that the archetype is a racist throwback, an update of the "Sambo" and "savage other" stereotypes.[1] Spike Lee popularized the term, deriding the archetype of the "super-duper magical negro" in 2001 while discussing films with students at Washington State University and at Yale University.[2][3] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Whites redirects here. ... A protagonist is the main figure of a piece of literature or drama and has the main part or role. ... Negro is a term referring to people of Black African ancestry. ... // Sambo is a racial term for a person with mixed indigenous and African heritage in the Caribbean, also for an African American, Black, or South Asian person in the United States and the United Kingdom. ... Shelton Jackson Lee (born March 20, 1957, in Atlanta, Georgia), better known as Spike Lee, is an Emmy Award - winning, and Academy Award - nominated American film director, producer, writer, and actor noted for his films dealing with controversial social and political issues. ... For other uses, see Archetype (disambiguation). ... Washington State University (WSU) is a major public research university in Pullman, Washington. ... Yale redirects here. ...

Contents

The magical negro in fiction

The magical negro is typically "in some way outwardly or inwardly disabled, either by discrimination, disability or social constraint," often a janitor or prisoner.[4] He has no past; he simply appears one day to help the white protagonist.[5] He is the black stereotype, "prone to criminality and laziness."[6] To counterbalance this, he has some sort of magical power, "rather vaguely defined but not the sort of thing one typically encounters."[5] He is patient and wise, often dispensing various words of wisdom, and is "closer to the earth."[2] Whites redirects here. ...


The magical negro serves as a plot device to help the protagonist get out of trouble, typically through helping the white character recognize his own faults and overcome them.[2] Although he has magical powers, his "magic is ostensibly directed toward helping and enlightening a white male character."[4] It is this feature of the magical negro that some people find most troubling. Although the character seems to be showing African-Americans in a positive light, he is still ultimately subordinate to European-Americans. He is also regarded as an exception, allowing white America to "like individual black people but not black culture."[7]


To save the white protagonist, however, he would do anything, including sacrificing himself, as Sidney Poitier portrays in The Defiant Ones, the prototypical magical Negro movie.[2] Note that Poitier's character is also saved by the white protagonist. Not to be confused with Sydney Tamiia Poitier. ... The Defiant Ones is a 1958 film which tells about two escaped prisoners who are shackled together, one white and one black, who must co-operate in order to survive. ...


The magical negro is a reoccurring theme in Chinese Literature from the Tang Dynasty.[8] Known as “Kun-lun” (崑崙, an ancient Chinese term that denoted all dark-skinned races), these African slaves were portrayed as having supernatural strength and the power to invade people’s dreams to reveal great knowledge. One tale known as the Kun-lun slave mentions a slave leaping over high walls while ladened with the weight of two people in order to rescue his master’s lover.[9] Other tales mention them swimming to the bottom of raging rivers to retrieve heavenly treasures for their lord. The color of their skin was believed to be a medicinal balm that could be wiped off and used to cure a person’s illness.[8] Chinese literature spans back thousands of years, from the earliest recorded dynastic court archives to the matured fictional novel arising in the medieval period to entertain the masses of literate Chinese. ... For the band, see Tang Dynasty (band). ... Kunlun Nu (Traditional Chinese: - The K’un-lun Slave) was a wuxia romance written by P’ei Hsing (Traditional Chinese: ) (c. ...


Examples

Examples of magical negroes as published by social commentators include:

Uncle Remus was a fictional character, the title character and fictional narrator of a collection of African American folktales adapted and compiled by Joel Chandler Harris, published in book form from 1881. ... James Baskett (February 16, 1904–July 9, 1948) was an American actor known for his portrayal of Uncle Remus in the 1946 Disney feature film Song of the South, for which he was given an Honorary Academy Award, making him the first male performer of African descent to receive an... Song of the South is a feature film produced by Walt Disney, released on November 12, 1946 by RKO Radio Pictures and based on the Uncle Remus cycle of stories by Joel Chandler Harris. ... See also: 1945 in film 1946 1947 in film 1940s in film years in film film // Events Top grossing films North America The Bells of St. ... Not to be confused with Sydney Tamiia Poitier. ... The Defiant Ones is a 1958 film which tells about two escaped prisoners who are shackled together, one white and one black, who must co-operate in order to survive. ... The year 1958 in film involved some significant events. ... For other persons named Stephen King, see Stephen King (disambiguation). ... For other uses of this term, see Shining. ... See also: 1976 in literature, other events of 1977, 1978 in literature, list of years in literature. ... For other uses of this term, see Shining. ... Benjamin Sherman Scatman Crothers (May 23, 1910 – November 22, 1986) was an African-American actor, singer, dancer and musician. ... The Shining was a TV miniseries adaptation of Stephen Kings novel of the same name. ... Melvin Van Peebles, circa 2001, as seen in the documentary The Real Deal (What it Was. ... The Stand is a post-apocalyptic Horror/Science Fiction novel by Stephen King originally published in 1978. ... See also: 1977 in literature, other events of 1978, 1979 in literature, list of years in literature. ... The Stand is a 1994 television miniseries based on the novel The Stand by Stephen King. ... Ruby Dee (born October 27, 1924) is an African American actress, poet, playwright, screenwriter, journalist, and activist. ... Cover of the single volume version of The Green Mile The Green Mile (1996) is a serial novel by Stephen King, later republished with all six volumes in a trade paperback. ... The year 1996 in literature involved some significant events and new books. ... This article is about the 1999 film adaptation. ... Michael Clarke Duncan (born December 10, 1957) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor who has starred in a number of successful films. ... Bill Cobbs (born June 16, 1935) is an African-American film actor. ... The Hudsucker Proxy (1994) is a screwball comedy film directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, telling a fictitious story about the rise and fall of a naive executive and the invention of the hula hoop. ... The year 1994 in film involved some significant events. ... Don Cheadle (born November 29, 1964) is an Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor. ... The Family Man is a 2000 Brett Ratner film starring Nicolas Cage (as Jack Campbell) and Téa Leoni, about a man who is given a glimpse at what could have been, if he had made a different decision 13 years ago. ... The year 2000 in film involved some significant events. ... “W. S.” redirects here. ... The Legend of Bagger Vance is a 1995 book by Steven Pressfield (ISBN 0-380-81744-6), transporting the story of the Bhagavad Gita to the world of Georgia in 1931. ... The year 2000 in film involved some significant events. ... Cicely Tyson (born December 19, 1933) is an Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated American actress. ... Because of Winn-Dixie was adapted as a 2005 family film, directed by Wayne Wang. ... The year 2005 in film involved some significant events. ... For the Dawsons Creek director, see Morgan J. Freeman. ... Bruce Almighty is a 2003 comedy movie directed by Tom Shadyac and written by Steve Koren, Mark OKeefe, and Steve Oedekerk. ... Evan Almighty is a 2007 comedy film, and sequel to the 2003 film Bruce Almighty. ... The Matrix series spans major motion pictures, Japanese-style animation, and video games in an attempt to tell a story thats part science fiction, part modern myth, with elements of cyberpunk, computer science, philosophy of mind, Hinduism, Christianity, Gnosticism, Buddhism, classical mythology, and other influences. ...

Uses outside of fiction

Examples of the use of the term magical negro as published by commentators in non-fictional contexts include:

“Barack” redirects here. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... The United States presidential election of 2008, scheduled to be held on November 4, 2008, will be the 55th consecutive quadrennial president and vice president of the United States. ... David Hampton (1964-2003) was an African-American con artist who gained infamy in the 1980s after bilking a group of wealthy Manhattanites out of thousands of dollars by convincing them he was Sidney Poitiers son. ... A confidence trick, confidence game, or con for short, (also known as a scam) is an attempt to intentionally mislead a person or persons (known as the mark) usually with the goal of financial or other gain. ... Earvin Johnson redirects here. ... Evolution of the rules of basketball 1895 The free throw line was officially placed 15. ...

See also

A detail from Benjamin Wests The Death of General Wolfe; Wests idealised depiction of this American Indian is in the tradition of the Noble savage (Fryd, 75) In the eighteenth-century cult of Primitivism the noble savage, uncorrupted by the influences of civilization, was considered more worthy, more...

References

  1. ^ Jones, D. Marvin (2005). Race, Sex, and Suspicion: The Myth of the Black Male. Westport, Conn.: Praeger Publishers, p. 35. ISBN 0275974626. OCLC 56095393. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Okorafor-Mbachu, Nnedi. "Stephen King's Super-Duper Magical Negroes", Strange Horizons, 2004-10-25. Retrieved on 2006-12-03. 
  3. ^ a b c Gonzalez, Susan. "Director Spike Lee slams 'same old' black stereotypes in today's films", Yale Bulletin & Calendar, Yale University, 2001-03-02. Retrieved on 2006-12-03. 
  4. ^ a b Hicks, Heather J. (2003-09-01). "Hoodoo Economics: White Men's Work and Black Men's Magic in Contemporary American Film". Camera Obscura 18 (2): 27-55. Camera Obscura. Retrieved on 2007-02-03. 
  5. ^ a b c d e f Colombe, Audrey (October 2002). "White Hollywood’s new Black boogeyman" (45). Retrieved on 2006-12-03. 
  6. ^ Persons, Georgia Anne (2005). Contemporary Patterns of Politics, Praxis, and Culture. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers, p. 137. ISBN 141280468X. OCLC 56510401. 
  7. ^ Gabbard, Krin (2004). Black Magic: White Hollywood and African American Culture. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, p. 173. ISBN 081353383X. OCLC 53215708. 
  8. ^ a b Snow, Philip. The Star Raft: China's Encounter With Africa. Cornell Univ. Press, 1989 (ISBN 0801495830)
  9. ^ Liu, James J.Y. The Chinese Knight Errant. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1967 (ISBN 0-2264-8688-5)
  10. ^ Killough, Patrick (1997-12-09). BRER RABBIT SEZ, SEZEE: THE WISDOM OF JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS. Retrieved on 2007-05-16.
  11. ^ Wood, Noel (2002-10-29). Exposing Hollywood’s Fascination with the Magic Negro. Retrieved on 2008-03-19.
  12. ^ Farley, Christopher John. "That Old Black Magic", Time, 2000-05-27. Retrieved on 2007-02-03. 
  13. ^ Thompson, Gary. "'Winn-Dixie' Gets No Place Fast", The Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Media Holdings LLC, 2005-02-18. Retrieved on 2007-07-21. 
  14. ^ Plotz, David. "Just Say Noah", Slate, 2007-06-22. Retrieved on 2007-06-22. 
  15. ^ Steven Hyden, Sean O'Neal, Tasha Robinson, Scott Tobias. "Inventory: 13 Movies featuring magical black men", The Onion A.V. Club, 2007-03-04. Retrieved on 2007-08-11. 
  16. ^ http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-ehrenstein19mar19,0,5335087.story?coll=la-opinion-center
  17. ^ http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-ehrenstein19mar19,0,5335087.story?coll=la-opinion-center
  18. ^ http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-ehrenstein19mar19,0,5335087.story?coll=la-opinion-center

Location in Connecticut Coordinates: NECTA Bridgeport-Stamford Region South Western Region Incorporated 1835 Government  - Type Representative town meeting  - First selectman Gordon F. Joseloff  - Town meeting moderator Alice H. Shelton Area  - City 86. ... The Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) was founded in 1967 and originally named the Ohio College Library Center. ... Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu is a writer of fantasy and speculative fiction. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 298th day of the year (299th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 337th day of the year (338th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Yale redirects here. ... This article is about the year. ... is the 61st day of the year (62nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 337th day of the year (338th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 337th day of the year (338th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Location of New Brunswick in Middlesex County Coordinates: , Country State County Middlesex Established December 30, 1730 Incorporated September 1, 1784 Government  - Type Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council)  - Mayor James Cahill Area  - City  5. ... The Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) was founded in 1967 and originally named the Ohio College Library Center. ... Nickname: Location of New Brunswick in Middlesex County Coordinates: , Country State County Middlesex Established December 30, 1730 Incorporated September 1, 1784 Government  - Type Faulkner Act (Mayor-Council)  - Mayor James Cahill Area  - City  5. ... The Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) was founded in 1967 and originally named the Ohio College Library Center. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... is the 343rd day of the year (344th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 136th day of the year (137th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 78th day of the year (79th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Christopher John Farley is an American journalist. ... TIME redirects here. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... is the 147th day of the year (148th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Philadelphia Daily News is a tabloid newspaper that began publishing on March 31, 1925, under founding editor Lee Ellmaker. ... Philadelphia Media Holdings LLC is a group of local Philadelphia, Pennsylvania investors who formed to buy The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News and the internet portal for both called Philly. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Slate is an online news and culture magazine created in 1996 by former New Republic editor Michael Kinsley and owned by Microsoft (as part of MSN). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Onion is a parody newspaper published weekly in print and on the Internet. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 63rd day of the year (64th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 223rd day of the year (224th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

  • "magic Negro" definition from Double Tongued Dictionary. Retrieved on 2007-10-04.
Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

  Results from FactBites:
 
Strange Horizons Articles: Stephen King's Super-Duper Magical Negroes, by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu (3881 words)
He explained that a Magical Negro was a fl character—usually depicted as wiser and spiritually deeper than the white protagonist—whose purpose in the plot was to help the protagonist get out of trouble, to help the protagonist realize his own faults and overcome them.
The Magical Negro has great power and wisdom, yet he or she only uses it to help the white main character; he or she is not threatening because he or she only seeks to help, never hurt.
A Magical Negro is not just a racial stereotype, he or she is also a specific plot device; this character is dropped into the story to help the protagonist along, and the story is often successful because of this device.
Magical Negro - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (750 words)
The "Magical Negro" (sometimes called the "Mystical Negro" or "Magic Negro"), according to some critics and commentators, is a stock character who appears in fiction of a variety of media.
The word "negro" in the phrase, despite now being considered offensive, is used intentionally for that very reason by many critics, to emphasize their belief that the archetype is a racist throwback to a less enlightened time.
As a plot device, the magical negro is similar to the Deus ex machina, literally "God from the Machine" from Ancient Greece, in which a god or other supernatural entity was introduced into the play by a crane to resolve the affairs of mortals.
  More results at FactBites »


 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:
 


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.