Early promotional efforts for Kobi Libii’s feature film debut “The American Society of Magical Negroes” failed miserably with Black social media due to a miscommunication of the film’s intent. At Sundance, where the film had its world premiere on Friday, invited a far more enthusiastic response.
The film is inspired by the “magical negro” trope, a Hollywood pattern of centering Black characters who cater to white characters originally credited to Spike Lee back in 2001. “The American Society of Magical Negroes” attempts to probe today’s race relations, highlighting the invisibility many people of color experience in the American workplace as well as other challenges.
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