The American Society of Magical Negroes Hosts Its NYC Premiere

To celebrate the upcoming release of The American Society of Magical Negroes — in theaters this Friday—the cast, filmmakers, and more walked the red carpet at New York's Metrograph theater.

While writer-director Kobi Libii’s The American Society of Magical Negroes takes place in contemporary Los Angeles, the story moves through different worlds and genres. When a stranger, Roger (David Alan Grier), invites Aren (Justice Smith), a struggling artist, to join a secret society in which Black members attempt to lessen white discomfort, both his world and worldview open up. For his first assignment, Aren is placed in a high-tech internet company called MeetBox in order to assist an anxious designer, Jason (Drew Tarver), regain his confidence. The only problem is that Lizzie (An-Li Bogan), a woman Aren has feelings for, also works there.

The story offers a satirical twist on the "Magical Negro" trope, in which a Black character's main purpose is to help a white hero succeed.

The American Society of Magical Negroes is in theaters this Friday, so get your tickets now!