Reply #14: I am not particularly upset by the term "Magic Negro" [View All]

[LooseWilly]

I just don't think that the argument, which you are echoing, that Flynt's open letter amounts to "expecting more and exactly what you want in this little amount of time." is an accurate characterization of Flynt's letter. Most specifically the "in this little amount of time" qualifier gets under my skin. Why?, because, as I pointed to before, I don't see any criticisms of things not yet accomplished, but rather criticisms of things not yet begun.

And I don't see the grounds for the Magic Negro description of the expectations being expressed. The actual definition that I'm finding on Wiki sums Magic Negro up succinctly as
"a supporting, often mystical stock character in fiction who, by use of special insight or powers, helps the white protagonist get out of trouble"
I dispute the accuracy of applying this definition to expectations expressed by Flynt. Firstly, Obama is hardly "a supporting... character", rather he is, if anything, the protagonist in this government drama. Secondly, there is no call being made for Obama to "use... special insight or powers"... but rather a call being made for him to use some good old brawling tactics, the likes of which are familiar and comfortable to the "average American", especially those that are fans of professional "wrestling". Thirdly, the most defining factor of the Magic Negro (and the one that most differentiates Magic Negroes from Superman) is the "helps the white protagonist..." part- but the call made by Flynt is "The American people have placed their future in your hands. For heaven’s sake don’t let them down. Don’t let yourself down." ... so, unless one is comfortable defining "the American people" as a protagonist (not to mention white), the Magic Negro archtype doesn't work.

Rather, in this drama I would cast Obama as the protagonist, and Flynt as the "Magic Whitey"... with the twist that Flynt's "special insight or powers", while they are supposed to be "directed toward helping and enlightening a white {black} male character.", Flynt's "powers" instead work in reverse, and "de-enlighten" any who submit to his advice... and the question is, is "de-enlightenment" what is called for in this situation? Is Magic White Boy onto something, or is he just a fool?

And, rather than try to somehow claim that Flynt is expecting Obama to magically make it all better for "the American people"... I think it is the usefulness of Flynt's tactical advice that should really be the point of consideration. After all, no one calls on a Magic Negro to go and help a protagonist. Characters only need to do that for Mundane Negroes.

On the other hand, when you say "And equally amazing is how many expect a bitch slapper when that was never ever his style during the primaries or on the campaign trail. So to expect a change in personality in far less than a year is truly naive." I couldn't agree more. A part of me would love to see Obama heckling those undermining a public option, Blue Dawgs doing abrupt about faces in the media indicative of being cowed by political threats, Republicans suddenly forced to defend their own outrageous claims... and all other sorts of indicators that Obama has become willing to play "hardball", as dirty and vicious as it gets... but another part of me doesn't see it as being his style, and hopes that rather Obama is hoping to draw out critics and criticisms, and will try to apply the "hardballing" in a relatively "surgical" fashion, so as not to have to do any more of that which doesn't come naturally than necessary.

There are some who are too skittish to want to take the chance, I think. Flynt is one of them, I think. All those Reccing the post in GDP are also among "those". I'm not entirely sure I'm not one of "those" myself. But to try to call that skittishness and the consequent call to "Don’t pull punches..." some sort of Magic Negro expectation is to misunderstand the fundamental nature of the calls...