BBFs
BBFs (Black Best Friends) are as common in Hollywood as fake boobs and rehab stints.
— "Celluloid BBFs have been featured in the just-opened 'The Nanny Diaries,' as well as 'The Devil Wears Prada,' and 'Premonition.' But BBFs have been even more of an influence in TV series, including 'The New Adventures of Old Christine,' 'Ghost Whisperer,' 'Alias,' 'Ally McBeal,' 'Felicity,' 'Summerland' and 'Private Practice,' the spinoff of 'Grey's Anatomy' premiering this fall.
The BBF syndrome isn't something that Hollywood likes to talk about, even as it continues to be a winking in-joke among blacks in the industry. One African American actress said that she and her actress friends tease one another about forming a support group for characters who had to help out their 'woefully helpless white girls.'"
The BBF syndrome is reflective of the limited roles offered to Black women and are perhaps a modern adaptation of the mammy; the always eager to nurture Black female counterpart.
Male BBFs are quite common in Hollywood, but their roles vary more than the female BBF. —"BBFs vary in personality and looks, but many share the same qualities: They are gorgeous, independent, loyal and successful. They live or work with their friend but are not really around all that much except for well-timed moments when the heroine needs an eating companion or is in crisis. BBFs basically have very little going on, so they are largely available for such moments. And even though they are single or lack consistent solid relationships, BBFs are experts in the ways of the world, using that knowledge to comfort, warn or scold their BFF." (BFF = Best Friend Forever)
Some BBFs are actually B(i)BFs like Alicia Keys in "The Nanny Diaries". Biracial Best Friends.
— "Celluloid BBFs have been featured in the just-opened 'The Nanny Diaries,' as well as 'The Devil Wears Prada,' and 'Premonition.' But BBFs have been even more of an influence in TV series, including 'The New Adventures of Old Christine,' 'Ghost Whisperer,' 'Alias,' 'Ally McBeal,' 'Felicity,' 'Summerland' and 'Private Practice,' the spinoff of 'Grey's Anatomy' premiering this fall.
The BBF syndrome isn't something that Hollywood likes to talk about, even as it continues to be a winking in-joke among blacks in the industry. One African American actress said that she and her actress friends tease one another about forming a support group for characters who had to help out their 'woefully helpless white girls.'"
The BBF syndrome is reflective of the limited roles offered to Black women and are perhaps a modern adaptation of the mammy; the always eager to nurture Black female counterpart.
Male BBFs are quite common in Hollywood, but their roles vary more than the female BBF. —"BBFs vary in personality and looks, but many share the same qualities: They are gorgeous, independent, loyal and successful. They live or work with their friend but are not really around all that much except for well-timed moments when the heroine needs an eating companion or is in crisis. BBFs basically have very little going on, so they are largely available for such moments. And even though they are single or lack consistent solid relationships, BBFs are experts in the ways of the world, using that knowledge to comfort, warn or scold their BFF." (BFF = Best Friend Forever)
Some BBFs are actually B(i)BFs like Alicia Keys in "The Nanny Diaries". Biracial Best Friends.
Hi, Thanks for you post and I love your blog. Some people refer to the Black Best Friend as the "magic Negro". These role have been around for as long as their has been film in this country. I think the roots of it can be traced to the stereotypical 'mammy'. Unfortunately we as African Americans are sometimes just so happy to see a black person in the film we don't analyze the roles completely. And it's unfortunate that we would even have to analyze instead of just enjoying the film, but this is the world we live in.
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Thanks for loving the blog Mes Deaux Cents! I've never heard of the "magic Negro" but ever since I blogged about the BBF, I'm starting to think that maybe I AM A BBF to many of my friends! I'm now looking at my less-Black friends with suspicion...
Thanks for the comment!
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Melvin Van Peebles also referred to the "new negro" of the 40's-50's, used in order to attract Black audiences, but always "helped" by a good liberal white guy.
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