Grier and Smith Shine in The American Society of Magical Negroes

If The Birth of a Nation by D.W. Griffith is proclaimed “the greatest picture ever made,” then the “Magical Negro,” a Black supporting character who exists solely to serve a white protagonist’s story line, has been a stock character trope since the inception of American cinema.

Debut director Kobi Libii engages this trope with a satirical, fairy tale romantic comedy about the coming of age of a young Black man who is propositioned to become a real-life Magical Negro upon narrowly escaping death after a string of racial microaggressions get out of hand.

I’ll admit, this title rubbed me the wrong way and my enthusiasm was more curiosity than anything else.  The first half of the film had me completely perplexed until Tony award winner David Allen Grier delivers a monologue recalling as a young boy watching his Dad be disrespected and spat upon. Grier’s ease of disseminating the most disturbing information of a young child witnessing his hero being treated less than is a cinematic moment in the best sense possible leaving ones stomach in knots.

That performance is only enhanced by Justice Smith.  Smith has many moments throughout, however, the most impressionable occurs while confronting a co-worker about his passive aggressive microaggressions toward a Black man clearly being used for DEI purposes and not his inherent skill. The dialogue is smart and when Smith says “I live in a country where I feel like it wants me dead…I’ve been o this planet for 27 years and I just realized I deserve to be alive,” these words resonate and seared my soul. In addition to Smith and Grier, there are memorable turns from Nicole Byer and Aisha Hinds, whose presence are sorely missed when not onscreen.

The second half  seems to flow better bringing us full circle from the start where Smith is constantly apologizing for being bumped into by a parade of white people when he is the one deserving of an apology.

“The American Society of Magical Negroes”  ultimately uniquely explores what it means for Black people to protect and care for ourselves and each other. Yet, attempts simultaneously to give us a romance that doesn’t seem to be fully fleshed out.  This film will make you ponder many things and leave audiences educated – yet confused about what the real message is the film is attempting to share with its audience.