And there are Black actors often at the center of these movies, many of them showered with awards and nominations, along with the films themselves. There’s a tricky negotiation here, I imagine. The recognition Black actors receive from the public after these performances goes a long way in validating not only the actors themselves, but also the film. Even if the performances are singular, to push those performances to the forefront prioritizes a cycle that gives value to the roles Black people play when they are a part of work that reframes and recasts racism in service of white comfort. The
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