Lena Waithe is getting called out for her use of black trauma

[hewontgo]

TW:Murder, rape, infanticide, violence.

[Review]
Ain’t no fucking way. pic.twitter.com/SE9nLGunOQ
- Zig Zaddy Kane (@yayforzig) April 9, 2021
A review detailed the black trauma portrayed on Lena Waithe's latest project 'Them

Comments

[pikapika217]

Between this and Queen & Slim I'm SICK of her work and how it sensationalizes black pain the way it does. Like, it's a fantasy! Even if torture somehow must be why can't they triumph?? It feels very much like it's made for white consumption with no thought to how black people might handle, think about or have to live with after the credits roll 👎🏾

[damaliaraya]

You know, I hate to be like 'Nah, this shouldn't be made' or out here shitting on how other people process and express their trauma but at the same time? Shit like this seems like it's just for disgusting white people to watch and either enjoy far too much or be able to distance themselves from because they don't see Black people as 'like them' to begin with. It just feels so unneeded?!

Do we need all of this, splashed on a tv screen, to tell us white people ain't shit? No.

Are white people gonna see it and suddenly clue in to their own microaggressions and the day to day pain of PoC? No.

Will white people watch it and once again content themselves in the belief that racism is only big acts of violence, murder, and trying to run black people out of neighborhoods? Perhaps.

(Am I just in my feelings and talking to talk now? yes.)

[pikapika217]

I already felt dubious about Queen and Slim and had to spoil myself because I just don't need black horror or pain.

And it's like, both of Jordan Peele's films in this genre have black pain but it usually has an actual point and isn't based in reality. His takes his commentary point and filters it through an absurdity lens. I can't deal with his either - no horror for me - but at least it's taken to eleven. Lena just takes things from the headlines or history and amps up the pain and that is not artistry.

But in general, I'm going to media to escape reality instead of being reminded of it.

[rihaty]

And to add, Get Out also is not very graphic and has a very triumphant ending. From what I recall of Us (and someone can jump in to correct me on my memory/interpretation), it was a more traditional horror movie that starred a Black family, but has underlying, less explicit themes regarding xenophobia and racism. I am not Black so I don't want to speak for anyone, but I saw both films as having challenging themes on racism without being exploitative, and still being entertaining.

The description in that review above sounds so awful that I don't see how it can have any entertainment value.

[britneyspears]

i hope this is finally the end of her hype. she is a flop writer.

[peggybundy]

woah... that’s far more brutal than I could even imagine holy fuxking hell

[adb7]

I have so many thoughts on this that are better suited for the wretched bird site than ONTD. I'll say that I'm not surprised after looking at the cast and producers.

Also, where is the smoke for Little Marvin, the actual creator of the show??

[drblind]

yeah tbh she deserves blame for this and idk how much of the show she conceived of but she didn't write or direct any of this? in fact it looks like a lot of the directors and writers were white men and women...

[la_petite_singe]

Lena definitely deserves to be called out, but this guy should be called out more and I'm nhf putting all the blame on a woman when the writers are mostly men and the creator (who has NO credentials????) is the main boss. She shouldn't have used her power to make it happen, but let's not forget him as well.

[lilith20godrich]

She is executive producer on two episodes, according to imdb. I don't really care, but most of the producers are white guys. It's interesting how she is the only one getting blamed for all this.

[missjersey]

Black audiences deserve better. I can't fathom how that is entertaining in any way. It just seems misguided at least and downright cruel at worst.