Are you tired of non-Black writers writing bad film or television dialogue for Black characters? So is Tyler James Williams.
Subscribe to Shadow and Act’s Opening Act podcast here.
The actor tweeted about his frustration with writers, garnering over 7,000 retweets and over 37,000 likes.
In his tweet, Williams asked non-Black writers to “please stop writing Black ‘slang’ dialogue for your Black characters. It always sounds like it was written by a middle aged white dad. Always. Like never doesn’t sound like that. Sincerely, Black actors trying to make your shit sound natural.”
Dear non black writers,
Please stop writing black “slang” dialogue for your black characters. It always sounds like it was written by a middle aged white dad. Always. Like never doesn’t sound like that.
Sincerely,
Black actors trying to make your shit sound natural.— Tyler James Williams (@TylerJamesWill) March 18, 2020
Many of the commenters on Twitter agreed, parodying the types of “slang” Black characters get saddled with in productions.
Fo’ sho my homie. Deeze crackas really be trippin yo! On the realz!
— Tamarra The Aries (@T_monster) March 18, 2020
????FACTS!!!!!! I was watching a show and after a shoot out scene they had the black actor say “Man she took our boy, we gota retrieve him”… EXCUSE ME SIR, DID YOU SAY WE GOTA RETRIEVE HIM?!!!! ???????????? Nahh!
— melissa. (@TheBeeSide) March 18, 2020
Whoa, homeslice, no need to be straight tripping. Everything’s jiggy with it. ????????
— JDL-evision (@JasonDLouie) March 18, 2020
Exactly. All it does is tell Black people what these White folks think Black people sound like.
And over 99.99999999999% of the time, it completely misses the mark.
— ????????????The League of Extraordinary Melanin™ (@RandyS0725) March 19, 2020
Hopefully, some writers heed the message and be more truthful with their writing.
READ MORE:
‘Watchmen’ Cast Want You To Wash Your Hands In ‘Washmen’ PSA
You’ve Never Seen ‘The Lion King’ Characters This Swaggy
Photo: Getty
From Harlem to Hollywood, get the Black entertainment news you need in your inbox daily.