Chance The Rapper's Not Down With How "Bright" Handles Race Relations

by HHL JT

The new Will Smith/Netflix movie Bright is polarizing.

The critics despise it, audiences are mixed, and Netflix doesn't care what anyone thinks.

The film takes place in an alternative universe in which humans co-exist with creatures like orcs and elves.

Chance The Rapper found the movie's "allegorical racism" problematic.

Wondering how you guys are feeling about the lynched ork in #Brightmovie

— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 27, 2017
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I found the way they tried to illustrate americas racism through the mythical creatures to be a little shallow. #Brightmovie

— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 27, 2017
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I always feel a lil cheated when I see allegorical racism in movies cause that racism usually stems from human emotion or tolerance but not by law or systems the way it is in real life. The characters in #Bright live in a timeline where racism is gone... cause we hate ork now 🤨

— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 27, 2017
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I think the idea is that they’re a step below bottom of the spectrum blackness. Which is why Will’s character, the Mexican cop and the ork have that dialogue in the street. https://t.co/LaFMysw2WG

— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 27, 2017
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Is there any chance that they weren’t trying to make a metaphor and just try to make an interesting story?

— LaVern Ball (@Curlsngurls) December 27, 2017
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I tried to look at it that way but a few minutes into the movie they make wills character say “Fairy Lives don’t Matter” https://t.co/j721N38cdR

— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 27, 2017
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Have you seen Bright? If so, what do you think?