The Gray Area with Sean Illing

For Black horror fans, fact is scarier than fiction

Feb 27, 2023

Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman, a leading expert on Black horror cinema and Vice President for Diversity at Northwestern University, discusses her latest book, highlighting the evolution of Black horror films and their cultural significance. She delves into how the genre reflects societal fears, critiques stereotypes like the 'Black guy dies first' trope, and emphasizes the need for diverse narratives in Hollywood. Coleman also examines how Black audiences uniquely interpret horror themes and the role of these films in confronting real-life racial traumas.

51:21

Episode guests

Robin R. Means Coleman

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Episode notes

Intro

4min

Horror as a Lens on Race

11min

Challenging Horror Tropes in Hollywood

4min

The Evolution of Black Horror in Cinema

13min

Understanding Black Horror: Perspectives and Future Directions

3min

Challenging Hollywood's Narrative: Black Representation

8min

The Power of Black Horror

6min

Guest host Alissa Wilkinson talks with Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman about her new book, The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema from Fodder to Oscar. Dr. Coleman is the Vice President & Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at Northwestern University, where she is a Professor of Communication Studies. Together, they discuss the tropes in Black horror, and how inequity in Hollywood has shaped the attitudes of a nation toward Black people.

Host: Alissa Wilkinson (@alissamarie), senior culture writer, Vox

Guest: Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman (@MeansColeman), co-author of The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema from Fodder to Oscar, Vice President & Associate Provost for Diversity & Inclusion, Professor of Communication Studies

References:

The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema from Fodder to Oscar by Robin R. Means Coleman and Mark H. Harris (Simon & Schuster, 2023)
Horror Noire: A History Of Black Horror (Xavier Burgin, 2021)

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This episode was made by:

Engineer: Patrick Boyd
Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall

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