History Main / MagicalNegro

* ''Videogame/SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole'' has Morgan Freeman helping the player unlock new [[{{Fartillery}} Timefarts]] through special Tex-Mex recipes and appearing as a ghostly specter to give you encouragement.

** The political Right often claims that President Obama is viewed this way by the Left. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N08ZIsSPKuo Paul Shanklin,]] an impressionist-singer-comedian for ''The RushLimbaugh Show'', composed a song (called -- what else? -- "[[LampshadeHanging Barack the Magic Negro]]") sung in the impersonated voice of Al Sharpton speaking through a megaphone to just that effect, based in turn upon a column written by ''Los Angeles Times'' columnist [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ehrenstein David Ehrenstein]] in which Mr. Ehrenstein referred to Obama as one.

* Parodied in a series of ''TheManShow'' sketches. A hapless white guy is presented with an opportunity to cheat on his wife, and as he agonizes over the decision, a self-identified MagicalNegro appears to him, sings a song about "Listening to your penis's heart," and helps him find a way to rationalize the infidelity.

* ''TheVampireDiaries'' is known for its portrayal of Black Witches. Witches on the show are predominantly Black, and most Black characters are witches. Witches, the most powerful supernatural characters, are shown to be descendants of slaves, although this is not openly acknowledged or referenced. Although they are incredibly powerful, witches- or black witches are subservient to the white characters. What rare insights we are given to the world of witches, we are made to understand that most magic is done selflessly for the benefit of white characters, or to "preserve the balance" of nature. Notably, Emily Bennett worked as Katherine's handmaid. In addition, she used her powers to provide her and other vampires immunity from sunlight. ''Why'' she would do this despite obviously not approving of the "vampire lifestyle" is apparently a IOweYouMyLife situation that is never expanded on. The subtext isn't really helped by the series being set in the American South.

[[quoteright:350:[[Film/NotAnotherTeenMovie http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images//magical_negro.jpg]]]]

[[quoteright:342:[[Film/NotAnotherTeenMovie http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/janitor_mrt_7869.JPG]]]]
[[caption-width-right:342:I'm the Wise Janitor. I impart knowledge and help overcome fears, ''[[VerbalTic foo'!]]'']]

[[caption-width-right:342:[-I'm the Wise Janitor. I impart knowledge and help overcome fears, ''[[VerbalTic foo'!]]''-]]]

-->--'''Kenneth''', ''Series/{{Speechless}}''

[[caption-width-right:342:[-I'm the Wise Janitor. I impart knowledge and help overcome fears-].]]

** [[Creator/SamuelLJackson Samuel L. Motherfuckin' Jackson]] who chained Christina Ricci to correct her sinful ways in the film ''Film/BlackSnakeMoan''.

* ''{{Benson}}'' is an odd subversion -- it's about a wise black servant employed in the household of a wealthy governor's family, who solves all their problems. And is secretly the governor's most trusted political adviser. But unlike most Magical Negroes he is the main character and often has problems of his own to deal with, he constantly insults the Governor and the staff behind their backs and to their faces, and is often dragged into their problems whether he wants to help them or not. Eventually Benson seeks his own political office, running against his former mentor plus a [[DarkHorseVictory dark horse]] in a close political race. The show was deliberately ended in a CliffHanger, though WordOfGod states that, yes, Benson did win that office.

*** Leave it to Creator/StanleyKubrick though to find a way to subvert the trope in the [[http://www.horrorphile.net/images/the-shining-scatman-crothers1.jpg adaptation.]]

* In ''Boy's Life'' by Robert [=McCammon=], Moon Man and The Lady are typical Magical Negroes.
** Solange in Creator/RobertRMcCammon 's ''Literature/TheyThirst''.

** [[spoiler: "Her (white) friends are gaining all kinds of power left and right (and angsting over it), while Bonnie has seemingly sacrificed the use of her witchy abilities after using them to save Elena and company over and over again. (Remember, last season her mother was turned into a vampire, also because of Elena.) What’s more, she keeps making sacrifices, big and small, for this group of–frankly horrible–friends. That plotline did lead to a potential romantic entangle for Bonnie that I wanted to be excited about (since, because Bonnie’s life just bites, none of her romantic interests ever work out), until it was revealed that the character (a college professor) is most likely some kind of evil. Bonnie Bennett, eternal sacrificial [[BlackBestFriend Black Best Friend]] and Magical Negro, cannot catch a break."]] [[http://www.racialicious.com/2012/11/23/the-racialicious-entertainment-roundup-nov-10-22 1]] & [[http://www.racialicious.com/2012/04/10/why-the-vampire-diaries-treatment-of-bonnie-bennett-and-her-fans-bites 2]]

* Averted by Vivica A Fox's FairyGodmother character Lucinda in "Film/EllaEnchanted". Not only does she [[BlessedWithSuck make the protagonist hyper obedient as a baby]], when she's called upon in the climax she only [[FromBadToWorse makes everything worse]]

* Averted by Vivica A fox's FairyGodmother character Lucinda in "Film/EllaEnchanted". Not only does she [[BlessedWithSuck make the protagonist hyper obedient as a baby]], when she's called upon in the climax she only [[FromBadToWorse makes everything worse]]

* Averted by Vivica A fox's FairyGodmother character Lucinda in "Film/EllaEnchanted". Not only does she [[BlessedWithSuck make the protagonist hyper obedient]] when she's called upon in the climax she only [[FromBadToWorse makes everything worse]]

* Papa, the old steam engine from ''Theatre/StarlightExpress'', although he at least takes part in one race (and wins). In the original London cast, Rusty, the young steam engine under his tutelage, was also black, but later productions cast white actors as Rusty....

* ''Film/TheGreenMile'' has a character who is simultaneously a MagicalNegro and TheRainman.

* ''Film/NotAnotherTeenMovie'' has a parody of a Magical Negro in the "Wise Janitor"... played by Creator/MrT.

* Shaquille O'Neill in ''Film/{{Kazaam}}'', with plenty of UnfortunateImplications.

** In the Sylvester [=McCoy=] episode "Remembrance of the Daleks" the Doctor is helped out by a black man who serves tea in a cafe while inexplicably offering philosophical insights based on the enslavement of his ancestors.

** Earl Sigma in the following story "The Happiness Patrol".
** Carmen from "Planet of the Dead", a psychic who only exists to amp up the dread with her predictions of death (particularly the Doctor's).

See also WhoopiEpiphanySpeech, BlackBestFriend, and {{Mammy}}. For a similar trope about women, see ManicPixieDreamGirl (as well as DisposableWoman and UsefulNotes/TheBechdelTest); the MagicalGirlfriend may play a similar role for her love interest, but is not necessarily an example of this. For the gay version see MagicalQueer ([[TwoferTokenMinority who may also be black]]). The disabled version of this is InspirationallyDisadvantaged. When a non-minority character is portrayed this way, the character is usually a SidekickExMachina. Similar in vein to the MagicalNativeAmerican, though that trope tends to be more explicitly magical. Also similar to MagicalAsian, when an Asian character, often with supernatural abilities, fulfills a mentor role to a white character. Another related trope is WhiteMansBurden, where the plot is about an ordinary white person who befriends an underprivileged minority character.

* Parodied in an episode of ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'' where Jameson Whitworth, a wealthy eccentric, comes to believe [[WillSmith Will]] is his good luck charm. He goes so far as to make his "Young homie" into his financial adviser, with the belief that Will has the supernatural ability to make him richer.

->''"Hey, this is the MagicalNegro. Like in the movies, where the black character is just there to help the white guy on his journey. And he mainly speaks in folksy sayings. ‘I don’t know much about'' blah blah.'' But a man’s gotta have his ''blah.'”

* Uncle Remus from ''Disney/SongOfTheSouth'' epitomizes this trope, a key reason why the movie isn't seen much today. Even the horrors of Jim Crow can't dampen his determination to be a cheerful mentor for the children.

* Neatly subverted by Shepherd Book in ''Series/{{Firefly}}''. He may be Serenity's resident mentor and act as TheConscience for the Caucasian crew members, but he's not the holy man he appears to be -- [[spoiler:he's the man who killed him.]]

* ''TheVampireDiaries'' is known for its portrayal of Black Witches. Witches on the show are predominantly Black, and most Black characters are witches. Witches, the most powerful supernatural characters, are shown to be descendants of slaves, although this is not openly acknowledged or referenced. Although they are incredibly powerful, witches- or Black witches are subservient to the Caucasian characters. What rare insights we are given to the world of witches, we are made to understand that most magic is done selflessly for the benefit of white characters, or to "preserve the balance" of nature. Notably, Emily Bennett worked as Katherine's handmaid. In addition, she used her powers to provide her and other vampires immunity from sunlight. ''Why'' she would do this despite obviously not approving of the "vampire lifestyle" is apparently a IOweYouMyLife situation that is never expanded on. The subtext isn't really helped by the series being set in the American South.
** One of the main characters of the show, Bonnie Bennett, is given very little screen time or character development. Her plot lines are rarely taken out of the context of being a witch. Like the other Black witches, she selflessly aids the Caucausian characters in the show. Furthermore, Bonnie is used a vehicle for plot development and white character growth. Bonnie's love interests often use her as a pawn; the love interests are usually villains that first, attempt to get to Bonnie for her magic, and second, and more importantly, their use of magic always involves a Caucasian character (revenge on a vampire, saving Elena, etc.) . Bonnie's dynamic reinforces the master-slave dynamic in this way; while Bonnie is powerful, because she is Black and powerful, the purpose of her magic is to serve the white characters.

* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': Rue.

* ''Film/{{Dogma}}'': Rufus is somewhat of a parody. And according to Rufus, {{Jesus}} is the UrExample. Taking in consideration the Brazilian movie ''Film/OAutoDaCompadecida'', it could be taken literally.