Institutionalized racism exists far beyond the ways we think of it. One of the places in which it is most prevalent is in the film industry. It’s no doubt that Hollywood has done some questionable things, and the portrayal of Black stories is no exception. These films are designed for white audiences and continue to exploit Black trauma.
Racial trauma “refers to the mental and emotional injury caused by encounters with racial bias and ethnic discrimination, racism, and hate crimes.” Films starring Black people are often about slavery, police brutality, and mass incarceration. These issues are often portrayed in a manner designed to enlighten white spectators instead of serving as reparative justice for the trauma Black people have endured.
In fact, many films surrounding Black trauma often help feed a white-savior complex. Films like “The Help” or “Driving Miss Daisy” serve as an example of this. These films have Black heroes, those who fought for justice and equality. They also have a dual-sided white hero, and these films are often explored through a white lens. This is an obvious issue because they are Black stories. Additionally, these films diminish the achievements of Black activists and their fights for justice and equality by making white people heroes in them.
Films that contribute to a white-savior complex do so because they want white people to identify with someone who isn’t a perpetrator. However, the truth of the matter is that thousands of films portraying white characters in so many different areas already exist, and BIPOC deserve the same representation because their stories also deserve to be told.
Many people continue to claim that these films serve educational purposes. While it is true that factual history must be spoken about, using these films won’t do that. Films that entertain a white-savior complex are comfortable, but the reality is that history is painful and must be portrayed in an accurate light. This means that by learning it, you may be uncomfortable and challenged.
Another example of Hollywood exploiting Black trauma was surrounding the release of the trailer for the Amazon series “Them.” It shows a Black family that made a journey from North Carolina to a predominantly white neighborhood in LA. The show was considered to be downright “trauma porn,” which is media created around exploiting the trauma of marginalized people.
It is riddled with horrific violence towards Black people, and many took to social media platforms like Twitter to explain that it was obvious film creators solely used Black trauma for white entertainment. “Them,” in addition to many other movies and TV shows, still continues to portray Black issues through white lenses.
Films, documentaries, and media such as “Malcolm X”, “Black is King”, “The Hate U Give”, “Just Mercy”, “13th”, and others serve as empowering stories that do not come from an exploitative or white lens. It is also important to note that Black actors and actresses deserve to star in films about all subjects, not just Black stories. Their lives are not just narrowed to that, and they too belong in films about falling in love, sports, careers, and everything else we see white actors and actresses star in. For movies starring Black people, check out this article.
Hollywood continues to exploit Black trauma in the name of comfort and entertainment. That is why it is so important to actively continue to educate yourself and consume media that accurately portrays Black stories and history.