Show: Seinfeld
Character: Larry the Cook, owner/manager/cook at Monk's Diner, played by Lawrence Mandley
Quote: (to Jerry)"We don't allow any...outside...syrups in the diner. And if I see it again, I'm going to confiscate it." Also threatened to make George into his "personal hand puppet"
This is the anti-magical Negro, the one who is depicted just as white people see most Black men: not having it at all. Larry was there on more than one occasion to intimidate Jerry and George with actual threats for the most minor of coffee shop offenses. When’s the last time in your adult life that someone has threatened to “confiscate” something from you? He could do that because he was Black.
Show: Thundercats
Character: Panthro, voiced by Earle Hyman
In addition to voice talent provided by Grandfather Huxtable (Earle Hyman), Panthro showed us a lof of Negroid tendencies on this show. First, Panthro was a mechanic...which could also make him Mexican, but that baritone I-used-to-sing-with-Harold-Melvin-&-the-Blue-Notes voice is unmistakable. On one episode, if you watch closely, Panthro can be seen at a monitor in the background watching Showtime at the Apollo.
Show: Seinfeld
Character: Rebecca De Mornay (!)
Rebecca De Mornay was a heavy-set Black woman who (surprise!) didn’t take no mess. She is the director of an NYC homeless shelter and gets upset when Elaine drops some bags of muffin stumps (you’d have to see the episode) off at the shelter without their tops. “…oh, so they’re homeless…they’ll eat anything! Why not drop off some lobster shells and chicken skins while you’re at it!!!” She knew damn well she wanted those chicken skins. I’d take ‘em.
Movie: The Mission Impossible series
Character: Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell
"...this is Versace."
Before they even cast this role, it was clear that Luther Stickell would be played by a Black man. First, his name is Luther. Second, the character has a part in Mission Impossible II where he gets pissed about a bullet-hole in his Versace jacket. A surprisingly realistic role, to be honest.
Movie: Return of the Jedi
Character: Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian
When Billy Dee shows up, you just automatically expect him to say something extra cool or to at least plug Colt .45 one good time. His character is actually pretty deep. When confronted with the decision of giving up Han Solo and the gang in exchange for the safety of his city, Billy Dee gives up Han (though he does redeem himself later). He put on for his city.
Movie: Office Space
Character: Door-to-Door Magazine Salesman played by Orlando Jones
So they pretty much went balls to the wall with this one, making one of the only Black actors in the film a vacant-faced door-to-door magazine salesman whose spiel is that he was addicted to crack and trying to turn his life around. He eventually admits that he was never addicted to crack and actually had a decent job, but was laid off.
Show: The Office
Character: Darrell Philbin played by Craig Armstrong
Though Stanley is a more integral part of the show’s dynamic, Darrell, who works in the stockroom and dated Kelly for a while, is always a hilarious addition to any episode he’s featured in. Darrell frequently takes advantage of Michael Scott’s stupidity, teaching him imaginary gang signs and slang.
Movie: Napoleon Dynamite
Character: Lafawnda
Lafawnda was Kip’s pen pal who later in the film came to visit him in Idaho. Lafawnda is a statuesque specimen of a woman, which contrasts with Kip’s pasty, underdeveloped man-child physique. She’s the one who lets Napoleon borrow the famous Jamiroquai tape that he ends up dancing to at the assembly.
Character: Larry the Cook, owner/manager/cook at Monk's Diner, played by Lawrence Mandley
Quote: (to Jerry)"We don't allow any...outside...syrups in the diner. And if I see it again, I'm going to confiscate it." Also threatened to make George into his "personal hand puppet"
This is the anti-magical Negro, the one who is depicted just as white people see most Black men: not having it at all. Larry was there on more than one occasion to intimidate Jerry and George with actual threats for the most minor of coffee shop offenses. When’s the last time in your adult life that someone has threatened to “confiscate” something from you? He could do that because he was Black.
Show: Thundercats
Character: Panthro, voiced by Earle Hyman
In addition to voice talent provided by Grandfather Huxtable (Earle Hyman), Panthro showed us a lof of Negroid tendencies on this show. First, Panthro was a mechanic...which could also make him Mexican, but that baritone I-used-to-sing-with-Harold-Melvin-&-the-Blue-Notes voice is unmistakable. On one episode, if you watch closely, Panthro can be seen at a monitor in the background watching Showtime at the Apollo.
Show: Seinfeld
Character: Rebecca De Mornay (!)
Rebecca De Mornay was a heavy-set Black woman who (surprise!) didn’t take no mess. She is the director of an NYC homeless shelter and gets upset when Elaine drops some bags of muffin stumps (you’d have to see the episode) off at the shelter without their tops. “…oh, so they’re homeless…they’ll eat anything! Why not drop off some lobster shells and chicken skins while you’re at it!!!” She knew damn well she wanted those chicken skins. I’d take ‘em.
Movie: The Mission Impossible series
Character: Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell
"...this is Versace."
Before they even cast this role, it was clear that Luther Stickell would be played by a Black man. First, his name is Luther. Second, the character has a part in Mission Impossible II where he gets pissed about a bullet-hole in his Versace jacket. A surprisingly realistic role, to be honest.
Movie: Return of the Jedi
Character: Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian
When Billy Dee shows up, you just automatically expect him to say something extra cool or to at least plug Colt .45 one good time. His character is actually pretty deep. When confronted with the decision of giving up Han Solo and the gang in exchange for the safety of his city, Billy Dee gives up Han (though he does redeem himself later). He put on for his city.
Movie: Office Space
Character: Door-to-Door Magazine Salesman played by Orlando Jones
So they pretty much went balls to the wall with this one, making one of the only Black actors in the film a vacant-faced door-to-door magazine salesman whose spiel is that he was addicted to crack and trying to turn his life around. He eventually admits that he was never addicted to crack and actually had a decent job, but was laid off.
Show: The Office
Character: Darrell Philbin played by Craig Armstrong
Though Stanley is a more integral part of the show’s dynamic, Darrell, who works in the stockroom and dated Kelly for a while, is always a hilarious addition to any episode he’s featured in. Darrell frequently takes advantage of Michael Scott’s stupidity, teaching him imaginary gang signs and slang.
Movie: Napoleon Dynamite
Character: Lafawnda
Lafawnda was Kip’s pen pal who later in the film came to visit him in Idaho. Lafawnda is a statuesque specimen of a woman, which contrasts with Kip’s pasty, underdeveloped man-child physique. She’s the one who lets Napoleon borrow the famous Jamiroquai tape that he ends up dancing to at the assembly.
