Why Trauma Porn Sells

"When they see Black people living without pain and suffering it is shocking" Michael Harriot analyzes why society is so infatuated with watching trauma in entertainment especially when it comes to stories about Black people. TheGrio Daily is an original podcast by theGrio Black Podcast Network.
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[@TheoButler0421]

There was a point when we as a Black Audience could go watch movies catered towards us that didn't deal in unnecessary trauma. The Wood. The Brothers. Brown Sugar. Friday. House Party. Bad Boys. I'm Gonna Get You Sucka. The Five Heartbeats. So on and so on; so it's possible.

[@ewoksmith297]

ALL CLASSICS!

[@Still-Learning]

How did any of those movies Influence the intended audience to solve their problems or were they provided as momentary escapes from their problems?

[@TheoButler0421]

@@Still-Learning you're asking a question that deflects from the main point because none of the current crop of movies do that either. 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@Still-Learning]

@@TheoButler0421 Hello TB. Thanks for the reply. Will you please share with the readers what "that" is in your comment...."The current crop of movies don't do "that" either..."? Thank you.

[@kerry-j4m]

There so many black films coming out back then and these movies had different content also,unlike the black films coming out today.

[@randallous7505]

Very true, Black trauma porn in entertainment is disproportionate to the percentage of drama required for compelling Black storytelling! Stories of Black invention and historical accomplishments are underrepresented!

[@KamauMshale]

I think a good compromise is a movie about a struggle and victory. I think those painful movies are needed, but when those are the only ones it makes you think there's no wins

[@armonwilliams4735]

Denzel Washington did win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for the movie Glory, and his traumatic moment for him was being whipped and shedding a single tear. And Cuba Gooding Jr also won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, and the trauma he suffered in the movie was playing for the Arizona Cardinals.

[@PeacefulSister321]

I love the movie American Fiction. Such a good story done so well. The theme of that movie harmonizes with the theme of this video.

[@dreday1222]

Denzel Washington did win a supporting actor Oscar for Glory.

[@aaronlewis7182]

Was it his best performance? Fences was a staggering achievement! Nothing has captured the psychological pathology of what our ancestors went through during The Great Migration like Denzel’s great film adaptation of August Wilson’s staggering play “Fences.” “The Hurricane” was also one of Denzel’s best performances in my opinion.

[@Ashy_Feet]

It was best supporting. But he beat out Marlon Brando in a film directed by a black woman... that underlines his premise.

[@YesMayhem7]

Interesting, this trend of opting "Blackness" while negating the value and presence of the people classified as such. It's a vow of silence about "Black" existence, in trade for commitment to post-racial individualism. "Race is me, not them." "Race is the card, not the state."

[@BiagiaOsman]

You have educated me more. Thank you. Right on everything you speak of. I will continue to listen.

[@warrenhalter9293]

I got one question if all people of the earth were slave's at one time how come they only show so called black people as slave's only?

[@andreabrown4541]

They don't. Spartacus, anything that has to do with Moses, etc. However, the counterarguments against reparations for African Americans is that white people were enslaved, too, ergo black people shouldn't get reparations. Which is why I need them to see a slave movie for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

[@Surge700]

The Atlantic slave trade was by far the worst form of slavery to exist and the repercussions are still felt today.

[@anight8661]

I don't watch movies with violence of any kind anymore. Movies/media are used to keep a certain narrative going, and that's usually on the negative, giving you little hope for the future.

[@amberjohnsonlogan]

Love the term "white Oscars"- I'm only calling them that from now on...

[@kirkindog]

Yt people lack empathy & sympathy for Black movie characters in general & Black people in particular? WOW! I'm SHOCKED!

[@maatx9718]

All Black American and Black Immigrant Actors & Actresses need to listen to this one and yes ALL

[@Xuwakos]

Thank you

[@Struglinbrother-]

Very interesting perspective, much appreciated

[@tonyajohnson3450]

I watch them, it's sad, but i just want to educate myself more!! No dahmer for me!! I think if the black community watches it, maybe their attitudes may change!!! There is a lot of self hate amongst black people and it's really sad!!! We have to do better. Don't just depend on movies. There are many books out there that educate you also, many peoplejust need to read.

[@spikes2023]

Please upload more. Once a month is tortuous. Love your work

[@maryburrell3948]

The white empathy gap is an interesting perspective.

[@Still-Learning]

"If you do not understand racism/white supremacy, what it is, and how it works, everything else you think you understand will only confuse you." -NFJr.

[@Xuwakos]

COME ON NOW . and taking the time to also mention THE ISIS PAPERS BY Dra. Frances Cress Welsing (PDF free in Internet Archive)

[@Still-Learning]

@Xuwakos Salt & Pepper Peanut Butter & Jelly Ham & Burger Neely & Francis

[@Xuwakos]

👑👑👑👑👑

[@popcorn908]

I’m a little bit confused. How does the empathy gap explain shows like Abbott and Insecure? Because both of those shows are popular inside and outside of the Black community

[@justdinnerbyharrice942]

Struggle. People are struggling in these series.

[@Xuwakos]

​@@justdinnerbyharrice942they cant put 2 & 2 2gether

[@maureencora1]

I Still Want to See a Movie About Montford Point Marines I Know Boot Camp is in the Jim Crow South. Semper-Fi.

[@sherrodcalland7405]

Denzel Washington did win for Glory.

[@kharidamani6630]

Black folk that have a problem with historic movies are missing the point. It has been said that people that don't know their history are lost. These traumatic and historic films oftentimes are reminders of where we have traveled and who the enemy was and is. They are reminders that sometimes history repeats itself.

[@felitacavette3331]

Good information. I defiantly agree with you on what movies / tv shows are funded. I do want to see movies regarding our history (Till etc.) made and shown. I want them with some historical accuracy (understanding Hollywood) and not just with the "white savior." We can tell our own stories. There is room for both. I don't watch or care about the Oscars. I'm fine with the next day reply🙃🙄. We should we support our movies in all of our complexities (past, present & future). We should value our awards as much as we do the white Oscars, Grammys .... Some of these "A-lister" need to show-up more at Black-facing awards more. Many show-up at the beginning of their careers and not when they've "made-it."

[@EzzyDT]

Thanks for the video. I don't know if a black movie makes money; it will get more black films greenlit. I have a question for you. Do you think black people live in a capitalist society?

[@melanatedforever]

Yes

[@adnaloy9025]

My question is: are there many black capitalists? We always think we are capitalists because we live in a capitalist society, but the truth is that there are very few people who actually own capital. The majority of us are the working class, no matter what our job actually is, even those white collar jobs that are making more money. If a person HAS to work, then they are not the owner of any capital. Most of the owners of capital are of European descent.

[@EzzyDT]

@@melanatedforever If black people lived in a capitalist society, money would rule, not the skin color of the person carrying the money. We wouldn't have to answer questions on how we can afford to buy luxury goods or asked if we belong in some neighbourhoods.

[@EzzyDT]

@@adnaloy9025 I don't think that's the dictionary definition of capitalism. If you have any money transaction with a stranger, they wouldn't know how much capital you have.

[@andreabrown4541]

​@@EzzyDTWell, lookie here, another black person making a counterargument against the lack of generational wealth in the black community without even trying.

[@Blackdove0421]

I didn’t support Wakanda for one they made the wrong person the Gillian Mr pale face was invited too the picnic the end result all the people got in the end was another community center the movie was trash. We don’t need acceptance from them or awards all we need to know is that we support what’s right.

[@blessingchiwanza9329]

I wish for more black movies on Hallmark, you know the ones, with the big city woman, who returns to a small town to sell off the parents' property, and meets up with a handsome child hood friend, and live happily ever after😅. I don't like slave movies!

[@justmyopinion9883]

I don’t like trauma porn movies. I like comedy and romantic movies now. Maybe it’s part of getting older.

[@theo.n.e.records]

I'd love to meet some people who invest or are willing to invest in Black film. You don't have to be the person but I'm sure someone you know knows someone who can help. Send them my way!!

[@jeffwilson8246]

Seems to me like every movie you all are naming has trauma or trauma porn in them... Maybe im missing the definition of trauma porn...

[@ha4b635]

Or just porn...

[@eugenethomas1130]

Black Panther was disappointing. It reinforced a colonial mindset considering they had this power for thousands of years, yet, they did nothing to protect, liberate or enhance the African continent, it's Nations and people. Then only to setup a community center in the Bay Area of the U.S. is laughable.

[@paultrought267]

It is just a super-hero movie. It's not important.

[@aboutthat1440]

Ite was the first in many across the world he said. It was literally a story of stepping into power on multiple levels. Literally the opposite of what you are claiming.

[@l.j.r.8448]

It’s a comic book made for the big screen. Reinforced a colonial mindset? Wakanda wasn’t under anyone’s thumb.

[@eugenethomas1130]

Get out of your feelings and emotions.

[@kerry-j4m]

It's unusual that the Black Panther character and it's world-building were created by 2 Jewish men in 1966. And it made 1.3 billion dollars,most definitely the highest grossing black film in movie history.

[@seminole4life753]

I just wasted 16 minutes of time listening to this nonsensical perspective.

[@beaujac311]

I think there should be more movies dealing with that time in our history. So many black people are buying into all kinds of pseudo history put out on the internet. I think one of the best depictions about slavery ever put out on tv was the episode of The Boondocks about Catcher Freeman. To me the way the enslaved people talked to each other in that episode was probably more realistic than other portrayals. It was just so apropos that Michael Harriot has that shirt on when speaking on this subject. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m521qX17gsedaMU&ab_channel=POSTERBOY332