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.
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Black Horror as Social Syllabus
- Black horror films expose societal anxieties and unconscious fears.
- They reveal how Hollywood's portrayal of Black people reflects historical inequities and shapes national attitudes.
The Black Guy Dies First Trope
- In Spider Baby, Mantan Moreland's character is so insignificant he doesn't have a name.
- This exemplifies the trope of Black characters being disposable in horror.
Tropes Reflect History
- The "Black guy dies first" and "sacrificial Negro" tropes reflect historical Black servitude.
- Cinema often portrays Black sacrifice as facilitating white progress.
