Hughey and the "Magical Negro"

While reading Hughey's essay on the idea of the "magical negro" in film, it reminded me of an example that supports his thesis. Hughey states that the idea of the "magical negro" is one in the film that possesses supreme wisdom or magical powers. This idea conveys to white audiences that, "a saintly black character is the moral equivalent of a 'normal' white character" (2009). This reminded me of an episode of How I Met Your Mother (himym). Though this is a television series rather than a film, it depicts many of the points that Hughey discusses and shows how the "magical negro" stereotypic role is not only depicted in film, but other pop culture mediums as well.

In 2009, himym aired an episode titled "The Three Days Rule". The premise was one of the main characters asking for dating advice from his friends. A character named Stan, played by Kevin Michael Richardson, appeared in the episode and gave relationship advice to the characters. This idea falls under the category of white sexuality/romance that Hughey discusses. It shows a black man giving love advice to white men because he had more style, sexuality, and natural instinct. The speech Stan gives the characters is:

"Tell him that knowing he's out there, thinking about you, caring about you, makes you feel safe. So all your fears, all your yesterdays, wash away, and only hope remains, and the promise of his embrace.

You make me thank God for every mistake I ever made because each one led me down the path that brought me to you. And when we finally come together, I want you to hold me, hold me all night, stroke my hair, tell me I'm a woman and show me you're a man, until there is only now. You and I, and now.

I do not ask for the night explanations, I wait for it, and it envelopes me and so you and bread and light and shadow are..."

 

 

This profound and knowledgeable speech also relates to what Hughey calls folk wisdom. Because of the history, black people are seen to have a deeper spiritual understanding and therefore have more wisdom and outlook on life. It also gives them greater authority to speak on emotional matters. This scene from himym portrays this ideal almost to a tee. Hughey's research could be expanded greatly by looking at the "magical negros" presence on television in addition to film.