We need to talk about Black Movies since 'it ain’t that deep'

we've all been there, watching a new movie with high hopes of seeing fresh, empowered portrayals of Black people, only to be let down by another one-dimensional story, or straight up stereotype gangbangers and angry black women. In this video essay, I dive into the powerful and often, controversial state of Black movies and ask the hard question: how do we get better Black cinema?

Music: Several songs in this video are credited to my husband @JEtienneMusic Check out his channel for royalty-free beats ✨

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About Me 👋🏽
I'm Tiffany, an actor turned video producer sharing comedy and in-depth analyses. My focus is on finding the deeper truths in entertainment and equipping you to discern what we're being fed through content. Subscribe and join me in resurrecting more thoughtful cinema!

#BlackMovieProblem #blackmovies #blackcinema

[MorKing]

I'm 38 years old. I've been complaining about "black" movies since I was a teenager in the EARLY 2000s.

[sheritownsend]

I often find when people say, "It's not that deep", it's because their thinking is not that deep.

[tajcee]

I’d love to see more Black stories in the vein of Love Jones, The Inkwell, Crooklyn, hell, even Sorry To Bother You. We have so much to offer as Black people apart from collective pain and trauma, hopelessness… How many more slave narratives and hood movies do we need?

[kingroman]

I felt that for real, it is "always that deep". People hate to think critically nowadays, the prefer not to think at all.

[gap]

As a foreign black woman I wonder why the actors and actresses accept these roles? I also noticed that the oscars for black actors go to stereotype roles. There has to be some sinister agenda behind it.

[Flowercircle-oy]

Thank you for speaking about this. I’m sooo tired of other black folks telling me I’m reading in to it to hard. These movies and the portrayal of black people goes very deep. And media does affect people in the masses rather people admit it or not. I honestly hear more black men tell me it’s not that deep. I feel like I’m living amongst a hood twilight zone sometimes to be honest…

[coachtouden]

My beautiful daughter, instead of watching your video while on the treadmill, I wish I was sitting down and taking notes because you dropped some real good wisdom.
You have helped me learn to use a constructive and critical lens when watching movies.

"Black trauma and pain is profitable. " I put some more coins in the parking meter just to sit and park on that point alone.

I am thankful to God for the necessary work He has given you to fulfill.

[TOMIEUNDEAD]

I’m a Black Woman that had a very happy and healthy upbringing and continues to have a happy stress free life as an adult

I am not the only one. Where are the Black movies that are just happy and wholesome? Where is our representation? it’s really frustrating

[petermorton]

I love that someone wants to have this conversation because I feel it's long overdue

[chilisaucecritic]

I agree with most of what you said here, and I find it a damn shame that years after a movie like "black panther" which was a very positive portrayal that cleaned up at the box office we are still getting inundated with black struggle films. And as a musician I see the same thing going on on the music side, I make music that doesn't have the materialism being promoted that a lot of other black artists seem to glorify, but excessive violence excessive materialism seems to be what gets the limelight especially among black artists. It's like all of the entertainment industry promotes the worst aspects of the black community, and yes among whites some of the same stuff as being promoted but the difference is there are enough other depictions to balance it out. I would not have as much of a problem with struggle films, ghetto comedies and slave movies if that wasn't 99% of what's being produced for black audiences.

[petermorton]

The lack of imagination in some of our work drives me crazy. I know it takes a lot to produce a film and having resources that are needed to execute your vision. But when you see projects we're there's a lack of story or character development. And telling vs showing aspect in our films that are lacking. Also terrible casting. This is such a deep conversation. Once again I'm so happy this conversation is being had.👏👏👏👏

[vanessabrown]

“It is always this deep” Thank You “Professor “

[snazzydrew]

My dad straight up REFUSES to watch movies that involve chattel slavery. He says Roots really made him angry angry as a kid. I think doesn't like being force to feel that kind of ancestral rage.

I legit tried to watch "When They See Us" and couldn't make it pass the first episode. I was too angry.

[TheArkhamSpider]

This is a really inspiring video as an artist, and a Black person. Often times I see the "it's not that deep" response and it bothers me to another level because it gives the impression that we just have to accept what we're given. The first sex scene I saw was in "Boyz N' The Hood." From what I can remember, my reaction to it was mild, but no doubt, I'll never get the image out of my head. It's funny because I've seen Euphoria. That show is basically "corn, " it makes Boyz N' The Hood look like a fairy tale, yet it has had no impact on me whatsoever. I think in the future we need to hold creators more accountable. Michael B Jordan, Jordan Peele, Issa Rae, Quinta Brunson, Shaka King, and many more are creating excellent stories, but I do hope to see different takes on characters that are meant to represent us. Apparently a Vampire movie based in New Orleans is being made... I'm intrigued👀

[nicolesherman]

To add your video, I think it’s important to celebrate Black directors and filmmakers in general that celebrate Blackness without appealing to yt people and/or making it realistic. That’s why I like people such as Robert Townsend and to a certain extent Spike Lee. Robert Townsend had always made feel good movies like The Five Heartbeats, BAPS, and Hollywood shuffle. While not as polished as someone like a Spike Lee when it comes to directing, I do feel the fluffiness and overall joy in his films. Some may call his works “corny” but if there’s one thing I appreciate about Robert Townsend is that to my knowledge, he never degraded Black people, specifically Black women. He leans on the positive binary of the negative/positive binary of Black movies.

[KKemp-btnl]

The ones who say “it’s not that deep” are typically the same ones who take pictures of their food, and several selfies per day.

[ChantyBloom]

Your voice is definitely needed in this space and industry Tiff. Keep it louder.

[Truthnofeelins]

Lawd! You are my new best friend! I’ve been saying all of this for years, and everyone said I was overreacting

[swatkashamphotoimagery-ne]

First off, I am glad I stumbled on your channel about 2 weeks ago and was immediately drawn to your spirit! I am a 47 year old Nigerian woman - born and raised. I grew up watching movies and shows from western media sources, mainly the white ones with the exception of shows like Good Times, Different Strokes and such. Like many little girls, romance movies thrilled me, and once again they were about white people. In my teens I started getting exposed to black romance movies, and this is what my young perceived - the white romance movies were "sweet", endearing and lovely. The black romance movies were raunchy, didn't make me want to fall in love. This made me think oh, black people do not have sweet love! I was terribly confused! It seems to connect with videos I've seen recently about black girl are not allowed to be soft, are not allowed to be introverts, cannot be "different". A lot to talk about how media shapes us Sis, but I'll stop here.

[MrLashai]

"we just dont want to be oscar worthy for the pain." real. from one artist to another, thank you.