The Black Dude Dies First

(Re-posted from "TV TROPES.ORG)

Pretty self-explanatory trope: in a film which involves a lot of character deaths, it seems like the black actor will inevitably be the first to go.

In the past this perception was because there were few black leads in big-budget films outside of those that focused specifically on race or used it to make a point. Historical moviemakers were generally writing to white audiences, so it was natural (at least in their opinion) for whites to get more screen time. And if the writers throw in a Token Minority to give the cast more believable racial balance, who do you think is going to die first, them or the folks who have a bigger role in the script?

A notable subversion of this trope came from the 1971 film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. Nowadays the film is known more for popularizing Blaxploitation films, but most of those films were popular with audiences at the time for ignoring this trope all together. As more black people with money to spend went to theaters, more and more prominent black characters and more big-name black actors emerged-none of which were likely to get killed off quietly. Studios had also finally accepted that white audiences are not generally as racist as was once assumed, and do not need to have a white protagonist. In other words, if you're gonna go after the black man nowadays, you might want to check the credits to see who's playing him. If it's no one you've actually heard of, they're probably fair game. Tony Todd? Go for it. Samuel L. Jackson? You can take your chances. Rosario Dawson? Yeah, good luck on that. Denzel Washington? Bad idea. Morgan Freeman? You should give up. Will Smith? Run away and hide.

As black actors became more common in significant roles, this trope found new ways to stay relevant. Films would take a Scary Black Man, turn him into The Big Guy, and kill him off to show how strong their monster is. In horror films, the afflicted main character might have a sassy Black Best Friend that gets killed off to show that this is no laughing matter. 80s horror shows were good at this, and film makers had growing backlash against all the exploitation films.

Dear Hollywood...WTF?

Dear Hollywood...WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?

You used to be so cool. You gave us a reason to pay hard-earned money to be entertained...losing ourselves in a fantastic tale of love or terror or suspense, for a little while before returning back to a dull, dreary life. Now you are just as dull and dreary as our 9 to 5, or as exciting as suburban housework.

What happened? Where's all the fresh, original content that kept us going back again and again. Not all of us knows video game or comic book characters. Something fresh & new would be nice.

Why do you insist on dumbing down your product? Despite what you think we are not stupid. We may have strange habits like following what's popular and letting a couple of people dictate what happens in our lives, but overall, we're pretty intelligent folk. Please. Easy on the groin kicks & fart jokes.

Our ability to retain memory is not as bad as you think. We remember old movies and wish not to see them (and pay for them) again. "Friday The 13th", "Nightmare On Elm Street" & "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" are examples of features that should remain in the Hollywood Hall of fame.

What's that? You say that current remakes are for the next generation of moviegoer, whose attention span is too short to appreciate the cinematic style of older films? Oh. OK. That must explain the heavy dose of CGI and other camera "shake" effects on every project that comes out of you these days. Whatever. I guess I could pick up some Dramamine before I go to the theater.

We are getting tired of the same old ideas. Where are the new superstars? The new visionaries? The new studios? If you're hiding them, set them free. Give them a chance to dazzle us based on what we MIGHT like, instead of what we have liked before. Take a chance on 'em. You can't win if you don't gamble. And judging by the Summer 2010 box office, you're playing it safe and STILL losing.

Sincerely,

James Avatar

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