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“A Black Lady Sketch Show” creator Robin Thede says that people looking to educate themselves should watch modern stories with black characters. “Everything doesn’t have to be about black trauma,” Thede, 40, said during an all-female showrunner panel at ATX TV…from the Couch on Sunday. “I think the highest-rated streaming thing right when all this …
“A Black Lady Sketch Show” creator Robin Thede says that people looking to educate themselves should watch modern stories with black characters.
“Everything doesn’t have to be about black trauma,” Thede, 40, said during an all-female showrunner panel at ATX TV…from the Couch on Sunday. “I think the highest-rated streaming thing right when all this kicked off was ‘The Help,’ which to me is mind-blowing. It’s like, ‘Oh, I’m going to learn about black people, let me go watch black maids and see a white savior movie.’”
She quickly added that movies like “The Help” (which takes place in 1960s Mississippi) and “Hidden Figures” (set in the 1960s) are great, but said people should also watch modern stories — referencing her own comedy show as well as TV’s “Black-ish” and “Insecure.”
“Unfortunately, there are not as many … to choose from because they just don’t get made,” she continued. “My challenge now is greenlight these modern black stories. We want to see modern black stories … Go watch black people just living regular-ass lives and being flawed and not being strong black women all the time or making mistakes.”
“It’s about what we can do to not tokenize black people in these stories either.”
In addition to actors, Thede said that in terms of productions, it’s “a comprehensive thing that has to happen and that’s what I want people to understand.”
“It’s not just about hiring one black writer and one black actor, thats not it, it’s about creating an environment where everybody feels equal on set,” she said.
