We need to talk about Black Movies since "it ain’t that deep"
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- Опубликовано: 9 мар 2024
- we've all been there, watching a new movie with high hopes of seeing fresh, empowered portrayals of Black people, only to be let down by another one-dimensional story, or straight up stereotype gangbangers and angry black women. In this video essay, I dive into the powerful and often, controversial state of Black movies and ask the hard question: how do we get better Black cinema?
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I'm Tiffany, an actor turned video producer sharing comedy and in-depth analyses. My focus is on finding the deeper truths in entertainment and equipping you to discern what we're being fed through content. Subscribe and join me in resurrecting more thoughtful cinema!
#BlackMovieProblem #blackmovies #blackcinema 
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My rant about TP is the most popular video on my channel 😂 there's definitely some irony / poetic justice in there somewhere. But I'm SO GLAD ya'll are here!! 6000+ subs is crazy!!! THANK YOU!! if you want to be apart of the Patreon Movie Fam, Membership starts here 👉🏾 shorturl.at/etE07
After watching Mea Culpa, for me, that was enough. Since watching that movie, I watched your video, and I felt like it was time for something to be said about the states of black cinema. One of the things I take from listening to your piece on that. When we have some like TP, who is in a very impressionable position to influence. This can lead to some up and coming creators that this is the highest art we can produce. When there are many others with lesser of a platform who can be as influential. I feel like with TP, there is an opportunity to be more creative and let more creative into his wheelhouse for fresher ideas. He doesn't have to do it all. I believe he has talent, but the work we've gotten from him in quite a while has been more of the same, and a lot of his work has become formulaic, predictable, and and uninspiring
Love this perspective. Seems creativity is lacking in what is supposed to be a creative environment in Hollywood.
Great video!
Peele is the only person in Hollywood that seems to be taking a different path from the stereotypical Black movie.
Have you seen American Fiction?
Peele is shifting the narratives for sure, but Robert Townsend has always been a pioneer of unique Black storytelling
Into the spider verse? Across the spider verse?
@@Bloodsport1 EXACTLY!!! I was going to say the same thing. *American Fiction* is spectacular and Cord (the writer/director) won an Oscar last night for it.
Boots Riley is another, a personal new favorite of mine.
I'm 38 years old. I've been complaining about "black" movies since I was a teenager in the EARLY 2000s.
Your wisdom preceded your time!
Showing a Black character, a group of Black people, the representation of “Black culture” onscreen .... on a movie screen, a television screen or on the news .... is simply code/symbol for “dysfunction.” That image isn’t there to represent anything “good.” It’s there to serve a purpose and that purpose is to make The Other feel better and to maintain superiority.
So much of what takes place in these “Black movie” storylines is simply dysfunction. The dysfunction depicted is normalized for the sake of entertainment, and the greater culture has been taught that that is what “Black people do” and “this is how Black people are” but if you, as a Black person, are not used to life anything like that, you have no use for it and you reject it.
The 90's was the heyday of Black Hollywood cinema in diversity, if not quality...
My complaint is putting more of our stories on the big screen. We carry so many stories that Hollywood refuses to bring to the public. Its intentional and on purpose! Others (cultures) draw to us and steal from us but won't put out our GREATNESS. They (Hollywood) knows we are very capable but would rather put out the opposite/negative.
I am very happy to see am not the only one
I often find when people say, "It's not that deep", it's because their thinking is not that deep.
bingo!
Why you just said was deep!
Preach
Everything is deep. Just think about it
I felt that for real, it is "always that deep". People hate to think critically nowadays, the prefer not to think at all.
For real!!
💯💯💯💯💯
As a foreign black woman I wonder why the actors and actresses accept these roles? I also noticed that the oscars for black actors go to stereotype roles. There has to be some sinister agenda behind it.
Sinister is the word. They accept them because the industry has been very strategic about what Black actors will get noticed for. Really harrowing depictions of abusive, dark, or preverse roles are usually the most lauded. Think Monster's Ball, Training Day, Precious. They all show a pretty gritty humanity.
Foreign black woman too here ✋🏾, I feel the same way. That's why I always felt some type of way when I think about Lupita's Oscar. Because on one hand I'm happy for her, but on the other hand, she played a slave. And that left a bad taste in my mouth. The Oscars got called out for it, and the next year, they gave everything to Moonlight. And I always wonder if it was because of the Lupita's stuff. Would they have give everything to Moonlight had this not happened ?
@@TiffanyByrdHarrison like Halle Berry started off in a role of an addict iirc and later won an Oscar for her role in Monster's Ball (I refuse to watch it in it's entirety). Essentially she made it! You'll likely never see Halle play in such a role again unless the money is "right". The thing about Halle is she's biracial (her mom is white) and if that was her treatment, it tends to be even worse for brown and dark skin Black people especially women.
The Oscars are never really above board when it comes to talent and the appreciation of it. Everything Everywhere All At Once is fantastic and everyone did an amazing job…but only Jaime Lee Curtis got an award🤨. The Oscars are (seemingly) more about validating stereotypes to TPTB
@@tamironhill3324 what's TPTB?
I don't see very many content creators addressing our "Black movies" issues too often. Thanks for tackling this subject so intelligently.
@MissCandy
look for Charles Woods videos on “Tricknology”. And there’s Armond White interview on recent movie American Fiction.
P.S. They both speak in a boring way but they’ll give you insight
@@shadotunga5529 thank you.
Thanks for watching!
There are a few out there but most likely miss our radar because most content creators that explore these truths are conservatives or Christian. However, it's easily dismissed as being "negative" against the black community because the message is coming from someone we don't agree with. Thomas Sowell spoke of it for yeeeaarrsss...this video is a long time coming
I’d love to see more Black stories in the vein of Love Jones, The Inkwell, Crooklyn, hell, even Sorry To Bother You. We have so much to offer as Black people apart from collective pain and trauma, hopelessness… How many more slave narratives and hood movies do we need?
Bingo!
It’s also funny how those movies with slave narratives seem to show up election years.
I don’t see why a movie should be considered “A black movie “. It should just be a movie with black actors in it.
My beautiful daughter, instead of watching your video while on the treadmill, I wish I was sitting down and taking notes because you dropped some real good wisdom.
You have helped me learn to use a constructive and critical lens when watching movies.
"Black trauma and pain is profitable. " I put some more coins in the parking meter just to sit and park on that point alone.
I am thankful to God for the necessary work He has given you to fulfill.
I thank God for you, mama! Thank you for the exhortation and continued support as I move ❤
Thank you for speaking about this. I’m sooo tired of other black folks telling me I’m reading in to it to hard. These movies and the portrayal of black people goes very deep. And media does affect people in the masses rather people admit it or not. I honestly hear more black men tell me it’s not that deep. I feel like I’m living amongst a hood twilight zone sometimes to be honest…
Hood twilight zone feels like a great movie. Or a terrifying one 😳
There are many books written about dark propaganda and manipulation used in American media. It definitely is deep and what you say is true.
The lack of imagination in some of our work drives me crazy. I know it takes a lot to produce a film and having resources that are needed to execute your vision. But when you see projects we're there's a lack of story or character development. And telling vs showing aspect in our films that are lacking. Also terrible casting. This is such a deep conversation. Once again I'm so happy this conversation is being had.👏👏👏👏
EXACTLY THIS!!!!
Seriously! I mean we can dream to fly beyond the star, discover new worlds within our own, and start an imaginative revolution that will last beyond our lifespans... JUST PUT IT ON SCREEN ALREADY. And don't say "well that takes money & status... just b/c it's hard DON'T MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE!!!
Just more proof that wealthy blacks have no real interest in changing the narrative.
@@Bebop8ubby Exactly
I agree
I’m a Black Woman that had a very happy and healthy upbringing and continues to have a happy stress free life as an adult
I am not the only one. Where are the Black movies that are just happy and wholesome? Where is our representation? it’s really frustrating
I love that someone wants to have this conversation because I feel it's long overdue
“It is always this deep” Thank You “Professor “
🤓 thank you, Vanessa!
To add your video, I think it’s important to celebrate Black directors and filmmakers in general that celebrate Blackness without appealing to yt people and/or making it realistic. That’s why I like people such as Robert Townsend and to a certain extent Spike Lee. Robert Townsend had always made feel good movies like The Five Heartbeats, BAPS, and Hollywood shuffle. While not as polished as someone like a Spike Lee when it comes to directing, I do feel the fluffiness and overall joy in his films. Some may call his works “corny” but if there’s one thing I appreciate about Robert Townsend is that to my knowledge, he never degraded Black people, specifically Black women. He leans on the positive binary of the negative/positive binary of Black movies.
That's a GREAT call out and I agree, he leans into joy way more and because of his work, he really has encouraged a lot from other creators in this space.
This is a great call-out. And I never knew he made the 5 heartbeats
He also did Meteor Man too which was definitely one of my favorites growing up.
This is a really inspiring video as an artist, and a Black person. Often times I see the "it's not that deep" response and it bothers me to another level because it gives the impression that we just have to accept what we're given. The first sex scene I saw was in "Boyz N' The Hood." From what I can remember, my reaction to it was mild, but no doubt, I'll never get the image out of my head. It's funny because I've seen Euphoria. That show is basically "corn," it makes Boyz N' The Hood look like a fairy tale, yet it has had no impact on me whatsoever. I think in the future we need to hold creators more accountable. Michael B Jordan, Jordan Peele, Issa Rae, Quinta Brunson, Shaka King, and many more are creating excellent stories, but I do hope to see different takes on characters that are meant to represent us. Apparently a Vampire movie based in New Orleans is being made... I'm intrigued👀
i’m intrigued too! and i’m grateful that we have so many more artists so i’m excited to see what comes out over the next few years.
i heard Euphoria was A LOT and they’ve had tragedy with people struggling from working on the show.
Honestly growing up, my parents purposefully exposed me to what I now know was "black torture corn" to "educate" me.
So to educate me on the history and brutality of slavery, I was forced to watch movies like Roots and other slave films as a child.
My entire perception of sexual relationships are warped because I was first exposed to sex in manners only where the woman was forced to endure it. Hell, I think I'm asexual but I might also just be repulsed because of the horror I've been exposed to.
Euphoria isn’t a Black show though. The main character is bi racial and the other characters are non Black. That’s not Black TV. It’s definitely corn but I don’t think that falls under the category of Black trauma.
Did i hear a kluas/rebbeca/Elijah mention 👀👀
@@prtdiva I was using Euphoria as an example of a show that has a lot of sex scenes that hold no weight compared to the one sex scene in Boyz N The
Hood. I never brought up race in regards to Euphoria.
Your voice is definitely needed in this space and industry Tiff. Keep it louder.
thank you, Chanty! that’s very kind
Well it's a complicated conversation.
1. Black people are not monoliths and should be seen in a 360
2. If it makes money, it will be shown THE MOST
3. We can only CREATE the content but have little power on the marketing and distribution
All three of your points deserve their own video!
Point 2 is so packed it’s scary….it’s not just about money but psychological factors as well. A lot of people (though they won’t admit it) want to see characters that have it worse than they do or just act worse than they do. There are a scary amount of people that hate good moral characters period. Take that and add any prejudices you make an environment where many are convinced that POC’s need to be seen suffering or being malicious to stand out
I agree with most of what you said here, and I find it a damn shame that years after a movie like "black panther" which was a very positive portrayal that cleaned up at the box office we are still getting inundated with black struggle films. And as a musician I see the same thing going on on the music side, I make music that doesn't have the materialism being promoted that a lot of other black artists seem to glorify, but excessive violence excessive materialism seems to be what gets the limelight especially among black artists. It's like all of the entertainment industry promotes the worst aspects of the black community, and yes among whites some of the same stuff as being promoted but the difference is there are enough other depictions to balance it out. I would not have as much of a problem with struggle films, ghetto comedies and slave movies if that wasn't 99% of what's being produced for black audiences.
Black Panther was created by someone white though. It's apart of the MCU 2 me it doesn't count.
As a Nigerian born and raised, you echo my sentiments exactly. It not that these aspects of black stories should not exist, there should be more diverse aspects to balance it out. Both in movies and music. You see a black person and by default they're supposed to like "rap" and "hip hop". And when they like classical, or folk, or alt rock they seem like weirdos and outliers/anomalies. Black people can be complex too. They can have complex feelings, instead of being simple struggling, hustling victims of "the system". They can be withdrawn, instead of being belligerent or flamboyant (typically as a defense mechanism to the threat of being dismissed/silenced). They can have diverse life experiences that can be expressed as relatively normal aspects of the general human existence. Because what those common alternatives do sometimes is just make our wins look like flukes, our cultures like a cry for attention/validation, our perspectives and opinions like deliberate yet pale imitations of the mainstream portrayals of what's considered "Normal" - all in a bid to try to "fit in", but with an unmistakable looming sense of insecurity in what we have to offer.
I personally say I'm tired of "black black blackitty black" movies. Not that they shouldn't exist, or they're bad, or they don't deserve a place in the moviedom. But there's just so much more possibilities we've seen accomplished artistically and it's like why can't the black entertainment industry encourage more of these? Like black originals in the line of "Poor Things" or "Dead poets Society" or "Suits" or "M3GAN". That's why how to get away with murder was so appreciated at the time. Just something so profoundly human without too much "blackness", if any at all. Even Black Panther for all it's accomplishments really just dwindled in comic book canon/action quality just to overdo the "African Swag" of it. Like we get it, it's black people 😮💨 now give us the character face offs comic book fans came for 🤷🏿♂️
@@theteleisewilliamsexperience and that's part of the problem, you say it doesn't count even though it was our most positive portrayal in cinema, yes it was part of the MCU but how does that make it a less positive portrayal, show me a better betrayal for our people that was created buy a black person, that was just as entertaining, I will wait.......
I think a big problem with why this happens with Black entertainment is because there are many of us who were led to believe that this is all we are. And as Tiffany pointed out, all of these stereotypes are so pervasive then outside of the black community it seems the stereotypes are true. But the irony is how much people don’t like the stereotypes and try to express it, only to get reeled right back into the love of the stereotypes depicted.
Black folks sorely need a fantasy/si-fi section. Those stories are where you tend to get your basic hero saves heroine story. They typically start off happy celebrating their love,the villain shows up tries to destroy everything the hero rides off to save the day and the story typically ends with them being happy again. As long as all our stories stay grounded in some sort of sick reality we're never gonna be portrayed as anything' other than over sexed,drug dealing,church going, singing, dancing slaves who happen to also be highly athletic
We need 3 genres of movies added to our repertoire. Si-fi,Fantasy,and Horror but for those three genres to be any good it usually takes a bigger budget than what Tyler,Oprah and Spike Lee has access to. So sadly blacks will probaly never get a Star Wars or Game of Thrones or Braveheart equivalent. Those movies take hundreds of millions of dollkars to make. One CGI scene in those types of movies cost more that 3 Tyler Perry full length films put together.
Yes!
I absolutely agree with you. Some black Sci fi/fiction storybtellers exists but they don't seem to get mainstream recognition yet.I would like to be one of those black sci fi/fiction writers. I think many of us should try.
100% agree, been saying this for over 10 years. Heck, even some good action movies (that don't involve street crime in the city) would be a breath of fresh air. Jason Statham stay working and that's the only type of guy he portrays, but his movies are more creative than simple fighting or involved in basic street crimes)
I truly appreciate this comment. I appreciate it for the simple fact that you’re also realistic. We can sit here and fantasize about Black people being in fantasy, sci-fi, action, or horror, BUT many often forget the bigger picture. What studio would invest more than $100 million into a black project? Not many or none. People love to bring up Black Panther or Blade as an example, but forget that the characters are part of an existing IP. Even if we did count them, they are the exception and not the rule.
Yes Jerome, I agree with your comment. Back in 2016, I created my own comic series named: Negro Racing League. Although I really didn't promote it well, it's still on Facebook & Google for everyone to see.
Lawd! You are my new best friend! I’ve been saying all of this for years, and everyone said I was overreacting
You are not overreacting! Welcome friend, I definitely think we are aligned.
Black people don’t own every level of the process. If we did, it would be more genuine and authentic. Criticism is genuine. That’s why movie critics exist.
That’s why I think more blacks across the world should collaborate.
Great point!
We don't need them. We never did. STOP relying on your enemy to tell your story. they never will. We can easily stop relying on them. Our people back in the day did not rely on them.
The ones who say “it’s not that deep” are typically the same ones who take pictures of their food, and several selfies per day.
My dad straight up REFUSES to watch movies that involve chattel slavery. He says Roots really made him angry angry as a kid. I think doesn't like being force to feel that kind of ancestral rage.
I legit tried to watch "When They See Us" and couldn't make it pass the first episode. I was too angry.
One thing about Tiffany, she’s gonna come through with the topics okay?? 👏🏾
I got you, fam! 🫡
Yes she is. I visualise at least 100,000 subs in times to come. We need this sort of spirit centered content that addressed social and cultural matter so well.
That was a beautiful deep-dive. I love "Thought-provoking" entertainment. Looking forward to more of your content.
I really appreciate you watching!
First off, I am glad I stumbled on your channel about 2 weeks ago and was immediately drawn to your spirit! I am a 47 year old Nigerian woman - born and raised. I grew up watching movies and shows from western media sources, mainly the white ones with the exception of shows like Good Times, Different Strokes and such. Like many little girls, romance movies thrilled me, and once again they were about white people. In my teens I started getting exposed to black romance movies, and this is what my young perceived - the white romance movies were "sweet", endearing and lovely. The black romance movies were raunchy, didn't make me want to fall in love. This made me think oh, black people do not have sweet love! I was terribly confused! It seems to connect with videos I've seen recently about black girl are not allowed to be soft, are not allowed to be introverts, cannot be "different". A lot to talk about how media shapes us Sis, but I'll stop here.
Wow, your comment needs a whole video! I also see that thread of black romance being raunchy and not endearing at all. It is so confusing and makes people feel as though they can't have anything different.
@@TiffanyByrdHarrison do it, please! Make a video about that! I forgot to mention that it made me decide I'd need to marry a white man to be loved properly, smh. I outgrew that mindset, thought to mention it.
lol similar experience, so I just avoided (and still do) black romance movies because even as a teen I didn't get why they were favourites when the women kept getting used and hurt, and it was a win when it culminated in a marriage or long term relationship that was ride-or-die- esque or basic and excessive struggle love. Granted most romance and romcoms were toxic when you really think about them, but the struggle love and seeing black girls try so hard only to be treated so flippantly and suffer abuse was what took it to level of ick for me.
@@Zzz-ff1np yes!!!
not being able to criticize something for ANY reason directly contributes to the death of intellectualism. great video
well said!
I really love your energy, it's extremely warm & not at all negative.......My biggest black movie problem is we only own a very small percentage of our stories.
That is a HUGE problem, the percentages are so skewed. And thank you so much for the compliment, sir!
Also as far as sexuality portrayed in black cinema whats missing is proper context.
For example a sex scene in a typical black movie is usually born out of desperation to escape a set of bad circumstances i.g cheating,lust,prostetution,rape or a release from a bad relationship etc.
Where as in a typical wyte movie sex is used to solidfy a bond. Its used as a reward for the hero returning from battle and a goodbye in case he never returns.
Sex scenes in movies are okay if they hold some symbolism on a higher frequency like victory,or the longing that comes from a hero returning from a long arduous battle.
Sex in black cinema usually comes outta trauma which is why your take on sex in movies is what it is
My first sex scene i saw in a movie was from Conan the Barbarian featuring Arnold Swartzenegger.
Theres a vastly different context of the love they were allowed to make in that movie vs the love that people make on an episide of P-Valley
Both were graphic. The only difference is one sex scene in Conan was born out of love,passion and defiance against a superior power (Thulsa Doom) and the other sex scene in P-Valley is born outta drinking too much Ciroc and being a stripper 😂
Context and story matters which is why i say to get what you're looking for black folks would have to move away from reality based material altogether and towards Sci-Fi,Fantasy or more historical period pieces where you get a much more purer story and by default much more purer sex scenes that have bigger meaning.
This is so true!
That's such a great point! One of my pet peeves when people shame art simply for being sexual, when the real issue is HOW it portrays sex, as you demonstrated.
The irony is that people who conflate these types of portrayals (often under the guise of "purity") end up with a broken, dangerously naive moral compass -- they can't even tell the difference between Song of Solomon and 50 Shades of Grey, much less make responsible real life choices about sex.
You make a very great point. Never thought of it like that
10:13 I am with you! There are some projects and films I will just never see, like The Color Purple. And there are other films and projects I will never watch again, like Django.
I'm glad you have made a choice for yourself that guards your heart and mind! That's really the goal at the end of the day.
"we just dont want to be oscar worthy for the pain." real. from one artist to another, thank you.
you are welcome here 🔥
My sister! You get it! You spoke nothing but facts. I personally have been beyond tired of repetitive repressive movies and shows. The negative portrayals of our people the constant push for the degenerative behaviors of our people as the mass behavior of our people is in fact that DEEP!!! It is programming for others to view us as well as how we should view ourselves. 💜
That's it! Programming that begets more brainwashing. And it takes everything in us to navigate that space intentionally so we don't let seeds be planted that bloom into future behaviors.
Thank you for bringing this all to light, Tiff. I’m a white guy, and if there’s one thing that irks me about black cinema, it’s the portrayal of interracial romance in these films. They’re either a fun distraction from the plot (Malcolm X), openly mocked (Undercover Brother), strictly business (How High), demonized (Get Out, any film about slavery), or simply ignored (Romeo Must Die). Apart from being a big reveal in period detective films (Devil in a Blue Dress, Motherless Brooklyn), the only other positive portrayal that comes to mind is Loving, about the court case that struck down the ban on interracial marriage in America. Also Spiderverse, and it’s not even a hood film. You ask me, if Hollywood’s trying to bring this melting pot together, most of the time, they’re doing it wrong
This speaks to my family, middle class black family that grew up with to black educators. We moved to a mixed neighborhood and it was a culture shock. Many of the black students who moved to my school said we talked too proper, read too much.
Some think it's a fantasy that black people don't always struggle or live in the projects. Our parents from Arkansas and Iowa came to California to escape racism or where it was not as bad. They never complained they just moved up the ladder as teachers and administrators. We had a pool so we could swim! Our school had a pool too. Only when people moved to the neighborhood from the "hood" did we have a problem. Gangs, drugs, fights and burned down the admin. building!
This gets into the infighting that often happens within our community of holding Black people to standards of Blackness (ie Black Card) behaviors. I think we have to be willing to admit that Blackness is not a monolith. We are not all the same, there's a ton of diversity in our backgrounds and experiences, and if we're not careful, we will paint everyone with the broad brush.
The funny part about people basing their opinions of a group off of TV (Looking at you, Japan👀) is that they'll say we're crazy if we do it to them. If I based my opinion of the Japanese, Koreans, Europeans(Spain, Sweden and them lot) off their TV shows, what kind of despicable acts would I be calling for against them? But they get to come to us with that 'The TV said' bs? No. It's funny to watch 'em try though🤣
Yo, this is an underrated comment! And sadly, most of those more homogenous cultures tend to only see Black people onscreen, they don't regularly interact with us so they don't have a lot to go on. More Black anime could be a start.
All black Americans are the same in their personal life. My parents had doctorate degrees in the 1970's . We were in private schools. My grandfather had a master's degree. My mom' s brothers and sisters all graduated from college. We did not struggle. But we did go to church every Sunday, so I did relate to church. But not the Tyler Perry way.
True artistic freedom for Black folks is freeing ourselves of any concern about what "they" will think of us.
That's a powerful statement!
I feel this way about Black tv too. Whenever we're on the screen its violent, overly sexual or we're struggling in some way. I did enjoy black tv in the 90's and early 2000's. Now, I'm overwhelmed by the edgy stuff.
I love hearing people like you that just want better for our people and want to ostracize the typical bs that keeps us in a small box.
YES, let's get out of that box 🔥
I appreciate this conversation about movies and musics impact on our sexual preferences in our youth. All you say is true. So many of us have been damaged because of it and don’t have the language to express our confusion and injury.
We don't have the language, Yes, Sharon! That's it. We don't know what we don't know and we can't explain what we don't understand.
Gosh, I love Black cinema for the nostalgia only. But I honestly cringe at old school films and shows today. Oftentimes, I crave a Black led film that passes the Beckel test. Can we have quirky, artistic representation? I'm Syfy junky and sad we do not have much in Black film. Thank God for books... that's where I get filled.
I'm tired of movies focused on romantic relationships, slavery, and hood culture. 😒 the
This is insane. I was just having this EXACT conversation with my brother this morning. The fact that in black cinema, we only focus on the tropes that you just mentioned is so telling about how limited we are creatively (at least in these areas). And I’m a sci-fi head too! Fantasy as well. But we don’t really create those kinds of movies. Because, in my opinion, the culture rejects those ideas, at least from black creators. This is why I push back against the constant narrative that “white people” are always holding us back. No. We do that to ourselves.
I totally agree with you: thank God for books. I devour good books. Unfortunately, our community doesn’t really encourage reading. Many brothas don’t really read. And that’s really sad and messed up.
Ok, but you onto something here! the nostalgia is REALLY embedded in our childhood meaning we'll ignore what really is for what we wish it was.
I've not seen "When They See Us" and I too have only watched "12 Years A Slave" once. 😅 I accept that movies/tv can affect me, so I'm not watching things that drain me.
Yep, theres a lot out here that's draining so that's my take, too.
I really enjoyed your commentary on this issue. I've long ago decided to detach myself from struggle porn in black cinema; to me, it's simply exhausting. You're absolutely right when you stated that media has a profound impact on how we view ourselves.
"simply exhausting" YES, that's how i would describe it as well. Thanks for your thoughtful comment!
It is so hard to watch any shows or movies "programming" because when you know you know. Lol but I will say I love what you said here. We have to keep watching and critiquing to change the false negatives that hurt our community.
We are the watchmen! We have an opportunity to do just that.
12:25 this is so on point! The MLK/Malcolm series was so good. It showed the historical context of the struggle while giving us full and robust explorations of their lives. The joy, the pain, their strengths and weaknesses.
Ooh, now I need to watch it! I am sure it was tastefully done but i haven't sat down to check it out.
Your artistry blows me away every week, Tiff! Each video builds on the last in technique and style, beautifully supporting your message. I see you!
I so appreciate you watching every week, you’re a gem of woman!
I personally witnessed in my everyday life how other races of people perceive me based on what they see on television. I've been accused of "acting white" because I'm soft-spoken and not as assertive. I have men who approached me and started talking about how their 'member' may be small, but they can perform. Growing up, I even started to believe that I had to be that girl from the screen or else I wasn't black enough. I wonder how many of us had that distorted image of themselves and trying to live up to it.
Me too! The "you talk white" used to be really annoying to me, but I had to start rejecting these ideas inside before I could ever stand up for myself out loud. Now, I have no qualms with letting people know that Blackness is not something I "perform" and if they want to see a show, they need to go see a play.
Am Black British and you would be surprised on how many people judge us on Black American movies ever over here we can't escape that
Life imitates art. They teach ww to be mean girls irl etc etc. It's all planned.
Wow. Binging your videos and you’ve put so much language into how I feel toward Hollywood, the media, and our stories specifically. I’ve expressed amongst my creative peers, sometimes getting pushback, that I can’t get behind a majority of these stories being fed to us in support of the creator just because they look like me. Especially when the content glorifies and exploits issues that degrade, destroy, and demoralize us. As a fellow filmmaker, actor, and believer you’re voice is so important and a reminder that we don’t have to go with the culture but should be aiming to reshape and redeem it. Thank you for sharing your gift and please keep sharing, we’re tuned in.🙏🏾🎥🍿
Thank you for the kind words, Jowaan! I have a feeling that theres a lot more of us out there that feel like we can't say this stuff out loud because it makes us look like traitors to the culture. But if we are willing to continue being exploited for the sake of keeping the peace, I think we have bigger q's to answer. Also, "aiming to reshape and redeem the culture" is going to a be my new catch phrase, with your permission. Thank you!
I wasn’t prepared for your testimony of deliverance and your pointed praise and thanksgiving to The Lord. Thank you for all of this.
We bless the Lord!
AMEN and AMEN🗣🗣
New subscriber! I loved this analysis video sis! This has always been my critique of black film makers such as Tyler Perry not only is his movies not realistic because if I see one more movie portraying a lawyer and they literally just bypass actual laws and procedures I am going to scream. My problem with black creators is the way they do the bare minimum and just lean into stereotypes I am so tired of seeing black movies that perpetuate struggle love relationships, trauma, abuse, hypertextualization, etc. because our stories are much more complex than just trauma where is the character development. I think that's why I loved Moonlight because not only did it cover black boyhood, masculinity, sexual identity, friendship, and chosen family dynamics, but I just loved how they approached those topics and weaved them into the story in such a way that not only did it give the characters more dimension, but it made the story realistic.
Thank you for subbing! and agreed, the bare minimum has got to go. It's played out and lazy. Moonlight was beautifully enigmatic and though some of the themes were hard to accept, it did break out of that typical mold.
As an aspiring filmmaker, I've always been troubled by how we never get to have OUR escapist films. Everything we touch, even our superhero films, has to drag us back to the reality that we are hated, brutalized, and undervalued by the society we exist in. We cannot have the same privilege to exist in fantastical worlds whether they're established or completely original without others dismissing it as unrealistic or woke trash. Even we as a community have an issue when it comes to support unabashedly weird black films that don't pull the same stereotypical strings we've been conditioned to expect.
Hence why I'm so passionate about creating movies for us one day. Sure, sprinkle in that reality but I want us to be more than our struggles due to our skin and standing in the social ladder.
Hello fellow filmmaker! Your comment deserves a whole video on its own because CORRECT. we can't escape in films or in life, and getting movies greenlit can feel like a whole job on its own - to convince someone to take us seriously.
I am also passionate about the moviemaking side and working on microfilms this year as we speak!
We can all see the media messaging in black movies, biracial people also suffer from media messaging in black movies .there is most definitely a trope and a intentional divide placed between black people and biracial people
Great point! Biracial and multiracial people deal with a lot of backlash due to ignorance displayed on screen.
tubi has really become like the ultimate Blacksploitation Hub......Eventhough I enjoy some of it, it gets tiresome when you've seen the same story for the 20th time
It’s minstrel show central!
Right? I love they're having fun with a low budget but it's also sex, cheating, attempted murder and more sex-
It especially doesn't help tubi allows some of those technically sex scenes and topless/skimpy bikini or underwear shots
Regardless of its content, I can respect how creators on Tubi are able to create films without the need of validation from Hollywood and "investors" to make it and market it.
They are simply building themselves from the ground up and gaining a following. No different than indies and B-movies.
This should be something many more creators should do. Just make more varied black films and platform it there.
@@jm4050 I like that fact, I just wish there were more varied characters in these films than the:
1.) The Stripper
2.) The drug dealer
3.) The Pimp
&
4.) The dirty cop
@@DeeDaKang1 I do agree that there lies fault to the creators, but I also blame those who eat that content up.
They are also okay with talking about how negative the platform is due to its lack in quality, and stereotypical films, yet not actually encouraging the opposite to be released there, regardless of it being cheaply made or not.
First time watcher!your insightful delivery was great!Images that affect our self concept are powerful....especially when we don't control them!But we also have to be more willing to hold our famed actors and actresses..more accountable for the types of roles ....they will or not take!Though I empathize with them trying to remain relevant..within their competitive.Too many of our current images are detrimental to developing minds!The people at the top of the entertainment industry...who control who gets hired..and who gets paid what..need to be out in their place.They have been comfortably churning out too many stereotypically foolish images.We need to use our financial power and not support negative images...but we have also been conditioned to think they are acceptable and not regressive!We need better discernment in how or what we choose to allow into our psyche.We need to bravely support those who are actually tell our stories in a more helpful...relevant way!We need to first nourish ourselves more...physically and mentally So that we remain more mindful...to not allow unproductive images to rent space in our minds!Peace and light Tiffany!.....
Wow! The first sex scene I’ve ever scene was soul food as well around 7/8 yo. Because of that I’ve struggled with pornography and lust for years I’m now 25. I remember I use to wish I could go back in time and protected myself from seeing it. This is an amazing video Tiffany thank you for your perspective ❤
Brandon, I am sorry for that struggle but there is hope, brother! Getting away from the images that bury themselves deep inside is a prayer I have for each of us who lost innocence entirely too soon. Your confession means that rather than shame, you can reclaim your time and grow in what we take in now. Thank you for your vulnerability!
❤thank you@@TiffanyByrdHarrison
Girl! You done said a mouthful! Keep up the good work!
mouth was moving, girl! Thank you for watching.
You have an amazing spirit and a beautiful mind. Keep doing what you do!
Billy, thank you for the kind words!
I thoroughly appreciate this content! I have a fire stick and whenever I decide to turn it on once or twice a month, it’s really surprising that I’m not able to find anything interesting to watch. I scroll and scroll and eventually turn it off and grab some reading material or listen to a podcast which is how I stumbled upon you! You are a blessing in creating the conversation in moving this Hollywood projection of our people in a whole other direction! We are so much more! Thank you!
That’s very kind! Thank you so much for tuning in, I hope you find the channel really interesting.
I loved American Fiction, and did a big write up on my LB, but something I thought was so important, was that A story, that reminded me of the Royal Tenenbaums or Little Miss Sunshine, where black folks could just exist; and I felt after like this is what it feels like to matter as a human being. It was one, if only times I saw my family on screen and all of the things I was going through. Its what others must feel like...having a shared experience that it can be depicted by others. You feel less alone.
Otherwise, you have to trust the director. Film is more than just the story...its the acting, cinematography, and story beneath the story. I say this in response to When They See Us; yes traumatic but Jharel Jerome's episode was superb filmmaking. Trusting Ava, you see that while yes its traumatic, its also about the prison industrial complex, solitary confinement, and also the resiliency and humanity of the incarcerated. A lot of these movies you aren't going to see them again, but just like a Zone of Interest, they can speak to modern times and say something that has to be said again and again and again to forgetful humanity.
American Fiction was fabulous! And your points about Ava are heard. She's an incredible artist and I have nothing but respect for her work. I have no doubt she did the piece justice.
My first time viewing your video. I was impressed. You were spot on about Black Movies, especially about the desensitizing of black suffering. What we view from modern Black Movies is someone else telling our story over the majority of the time.
Very good review!! Me and my husband enjoyed this intelligent take on our media. What we consume means a lot!!
Thank you Yvette! so glad you and hubby could come along with me.
I am so deeply grateful I found this conversation. Thank you so much. Right on time. 🙏🏾✨💙
So valuable for healing.
🙌🏾 Grateful you're here to add to that!
Thanks beautiful for posting this!
Amazing discussion!! Great start!🤩
Thank you, Melanie!
Thank you for your content and point of view! It’s needed. ❤️
Thank you dear Sistuh for addressing this most crucial topic.
This was so good and refreshingly accurate!! These conversations are necessary!
thank you for engaging, Christine! happy you’re here ❤️
THANK YOU!!! For this video! These are all my thoughts and I thought it was just me! I’m tired of seeing us suffer on screen, because I know that imagery affects how we think. I don’t think people realize how powerful that is and what it does to continue to perpetuate this slave mentality. From the cotton fields to the cinema, the brainwashing continues.
🔥 "From the cotton fields to the cinema, the brainwashing continues." Let me park RIGHT THERE.
It’s really common in some of the films for the lead protagonist to be written as the “white savior”. Allyship is important, but the way that it seems to be commonly written, it seems to have subtext as if to say “the main reason” Black people have, and still overcome all the adversity-when it actuality is Black people carrying a disproportionate part of the weight. Allyship is totally valid and necessary, but coding allyship as saviorism is incredibly toxic and damaging. We need to remember the white suffragettes wouldn’t March with the Black suffragettes, and look at the trickled down negative effect of that. It hurts all of us.
FD signifier has some great uploads that really tackle the hyper-sexualization of Black bodies. I felt like some of what you said harmonized with some of what he’s said.
This is a great piece. I look forward to checking out some of your other videos. Thank you! 💜
I've seen lots of FD's essays and he always makes me think deeply about the cultural norms! Thank you for mentioning him. I definitely needed to reread your allyship point a few times. You are absolutely right that it's more palatable for folks to think of themselves as "not so bad" because "I've always been nice to you people."
Hidden Figures was especially egregious to me, to know that the real life story, the mathmetician Katherine Goble Johnson played by Taraji P. Henson, didn't actually get to see her work in action because of the harsh racism/sexism of the time.
Thank you for being here!
I’ve been saying this for years. We have to many Power’s and P Valley’s on today. We need more A Different Worlds and Black-Ish back on Tv. As for cinema its been this way since the 70’s
out of all the projects that OHFRA Winfrey could have done they chose the dead Horse"The Color Purple" and make it a musical... glad it did what it did. . No More Black Trauma Porn.
I have mixed feelings about the CP reboot, as well. On the one hand, I appreciated the original and thought it was revolutionary for its time. It explored many themes of abuse but also of being a Black woman in post-civil war south. On the other hand, it didn't need to be remade and the remaking didn't elevate the story in any particular way.
@@TiffanyByrdHarrison LET ME WRITE THE COLOR PURPLE
The Color Purple is an upcoming action monster film directed by Jordan Peele and Zach Snyder about Celie befriending Godzilla as they join forces to save the world from extraterrestrial super carrots!
Thank you for your commentary and your transparency!
Thank you for your thoughts. They are incredibly helpful!
You are so welcome!
Also great video btw. But to comment on people saying "Its Not That Deep".
I always cringe because... The reason im trying to enjoy any form anything is to not always be given the same spoon fed slock that everyones. So you're offending me for being critical of something i love. Which is the the art of film making
I can understand the offense! appreciate you hearing my side anyway, but i think that argument is for the more shallow depth of field folks. you seem to be someone who thinks deeply so hopefully the offense is forgivable 🙏🏾
Interesting topic and I do believe that it's nice to see black filmmakers getting their chances to make movies and/or TV shows but there is a catch, the show or movie that they make isn't going to hit home runs every time and it ain't because of racism. Yes, racism does exist but I don't think racism is the reason why a movie or a show wasn't received by the public and that includes black people who might not like it as well.
This is a good POV! We may not always get the traction for the quality stuff. It's evidence that we need a whole lot more to move the ship.
Yeah, and when you see films like The American Society Of Magical Negro (that name of the movie is odd) a lot of people including black people are going to look at it and say. What the (bleep) is this? I saw one black male reviewer on RUclips named D. Movieman reviewing that movie and he wasn't impressed with it, who can blame him when I saw the trailer for the movie it was odd to see.
Hey girl hey, glad your channel reaches my algorithm.
me too! Thanks for being here ☺️
21:13 I had to stop the video to write this. I feel like I’m connecting with everything your saying and I started to ponder it then I hear you say what I been trying to contextualize. And I’m protecting my kids now for what I wasn’t protected from and it’s everything you’re saying.
Thank You @ TiffanyByrdHarrison It's so good to see this! We have to dig past all the surface stuff and examine self, because I really want to see us Grown in healthy ways. Starting to read more and not just coexist but being fully responsibe and return to dignity.
Thank you so much for watching! I agree, reading more is a great way to think outside the box of what they show us.
"What is it doing to you?"
Great question
-This was great commentary!! I've been saying this for years. We play into the stereotypes in music, reality shows, and movies and then expect other races (and other black people) not to play into it. We can't control the entire narrative but black people as a collective can definitely gatekeep our image.
-I will say that I'm not a fan of the term "trauma porn"; especially if it is done with care. When They See Us was phenomenal. Cried like a baby but its necessary to put a human face to those young boys. Being that I live in the area, I now see two of accused often in passing and it's nice to see that both of them are thriving.
"Gatekeep our image" needs to be on a Tshirt RP, 100% agree.
I understand not liking the term, and everything I read about WTSU was very positive in terms of its work. I am an Ava DuVernay stan so I know she does fantastic work. When I refer to it this way, I really think it depends on one's level of sensitivity. I was in a season of seeing a LOT of police brutality pieces that were done haphazardly so watching another great story (I missed TILL during that time, for example) I just wasn't ready for.
Beautiful redemption that you get to see two of the men living out loud.
@@TiffanyByrdHarrison 🤔 I’m about make that into a hoodie!
I can definitely understand the sensitivity. I recommended the movie to several friends and many couldn’t watch it or complete it. Ava does everything with great intention which is why I gave it a go.
Thank you for making this video much needed topic to discuss
Thanks for engaging, Genia!
First and foremost, Tiffany thank you! Thank you for bringing this up, making a video, posting it, and being open for discussion. There a long list of other things I’m grateful for in this video.
I recently searched on RUclips for criticism on black media and found very little on the subject. The new movie about “ the black community of magic” caused me to think about why did this black movie and other black movies take the same narrative? Most of the black cinema I stopped watching years ago. I noticed this when I was a senior in high school in 2006, I could not watch any more Tyler Perry movies, BET, or black cinema. My reason was that the stories were too predictable and showed the same narratives that you mentioned in this video. I thought that it might be my preference for suspense in movies and books that was causing this thought. Then in this video you mentioned the over sexualization. I noticed this when watching “Power” on Starz. I was over looking the black man drug dealing, king pin, club owner, street guy, parts of the story and was more interested in the conflict of the protagonists out come. The parts of the show that had me hooked would be interrupted by a sex scene. The story would carry on and then waste more screen time on another sex scene. Which did nothing for the plot of the story. A show I am watching now is called Shogun. In a recent episode there was a scene in a tea house aka brothel, where two main characters are just sitting beside each other, one is translating for another character due to a language barrier, everyone has clothes on, and is completely sexy. I thought about what made this scene standout to me. It’s because even though got to see the two characters go in to the tea house I had no idea what was about to take place. The writers gave more substance than just sex. And when it came to the sex the show never showed it. It was understood what had happened further along in the show. In addition, this expanded the plot in the show.
You mentioned books. How we don’t read as much as we should. I cannot agree more with you on this. I used to ask people for any good books they have read. This question yields more questions than answers. The most common answer for books read are graphic novels or love and romance. One of my siblings reads as much as I do. She only reads graphic novels. When I would share other books that might interest her she won’t read them. Same goes for shows. Now if the show has some rated x stuff in it then they watch. Just like with cinema, books, tv shows, channels on RUclips, I realized a lot our minds don’t go past that a certain narrative. I have been fatigued with it. This video helped vocalize what I have been experiencing and noticing. New Sub here. I look forward to more videos bring light to this subject.
Absolutely on point Love this academic approach
Thank you so much!
AMAZING VIDEO!!! Thank you Tiffany!!! I have been building what I consider an amazing film collection. However, I was disgruntled by the way We as a people are often presented. You hit alot of the things i was conflicted with and I look forward to your future videos.
Hi Shelton, thank you! It can be a little off putting by just how much nostalgia I have for movies that weren't great for me back in the day. I'm sure your film collection is a sight to see though!
Very glad I found this channel💪🏾❤👑
Welcome!!
I really appreciate this video and wanted to send a blessing your way!
That is so kind, Dr.! Thank you for the gift ❤️
Perfectly put! I love this, I needed this. I wanted to breakdown my thoughts on each point but I rather just enjoy this essay as a spectator.
Rayray, would love to know your thought breakdown! But grateful I could serve as some idea fodder for ya.
Great lighting. It looks super professional and I love your perspective. Keep going great job.
I appreciate that! The lighting is always my favorite part of videos, too.
Love this channel. In a way, im glad for that "Good Times" animation because thats how i found this channel.
thank you for being here!
Your point on being discerning about what entertainment we consume is is a important and needed take. For faith reasons I have always known the importance of this take, but I didn’t really feel the value of it until my mid to late thirties. I’m embarrassed to go back and see how wildly inappropriate black classic franchises like The Best Man were. I tried to watch the newest installments and couldn’t make it past the first episode. Amazing how the story is filled with plot holes and nonsense but they managed to squeeze in as much pointless s*x scenes and raunchy language as they could…🙄😒
so funny story, I did NOT go back and watch that series because...I wasn't that interested. I didn't have the awakening that you did because I sort of just forgot about that whole thing lol but thinking back to it, it was definitely a whole lot of foolishness and raunchy language with little substance.
I'm 15 mins in, and you definitely got a new subscriber in me. I appreciate the analysis and breakdown that is much needed in this space.
Wow, that's a huge compliment! Thank you for watching the full video and going on that journey with me.
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾... To everything you said!!! Perfectly said!
Thank you for engaging!
This was epic! I feel seen because I think about these things all the time and have made changes in what I consume. I need friends like this that can have more discussions like this!
You ARE seen! Thank you so much for being here.
Glad this popped up on my recommended. Very thorough and thought-provoking! Good job!
I just saw Precious again for the second time over the weekend - and it was so raw. It was real. And it was so traumatic for me to watch. Lee Daniels put Sapphire’s book into motion. I think he did a good job however there were some scenes where it was way too much (i.e. Precious falling down the stairs with her newborn and Mary throwing at tv at them?? I cried and I doubt I’ll watch Precious again).
Whoever directed the I Am episode of Love Craft Country should direct more work. I still think about that show in general and love the sci-fi approach and brilliance of it. Jordan Peele seems to be changing things up, or at least trying to. Lastly, I love Melina Matsoukas eye and would like to see her connect with great out-of-the-box writers to make shows or movies. She did a good job with Queen and Slim cinematically.
Thank you for watching, Breanna! Were we on the same wave? I re-watched Precious the other day (not sure what possessed me) and it was so much worse than I even remembered. I almost turned it off bc I couldn't believe how dark and depressing it was....though I understand the reality of an abusive home life does seem bleak, I thought about the minds behind it and well..I was sick.
I haven't seen LoveCraft yet but heard that it was really well done. I have mixed feelings about Q&S but I agree that Melina's work really provokes something on the inside of her audience.
Great video!! 🔥
thanks cuzzo!
The problem is Tyler Perry. Making the stereotypes surrounded about church. And those movies look like a child could be the director. So vanilla and plain.
He's definitely apart of the problem, but not the only problem.
Great video ❤
Roots was a fictional story that put a hold on the American black community. I would argue that was one of the first problematic “Black” movie 🤷🏾♀️
I saw roots as a kid and it was definitely traumatising.
New subscriber!!! THANK YOU!!! WE NEED YOUR VOICE!!!
God bless you, thanks for being here!
Great video and analysis! Love your content. New subscriber!
Wow, thank you so much for the gift! Grateful you are here 🙏🏾