What’s the most annoying trope in books or movies?
Don’t fight me, fight the powers that be.
According to Wikipedia, the white savior is a “cinematic trope in which a white central character rescues non-white (often less prominent) characters from unfortunate circumstances.[1] This recurs in an array of genres in American cinema, wherein a white protagonist is portrayed as a messianic figure who often gains some insight or introspection in the course of rescuing non-white characters (or occasionally non-human alien races that substitute as non-white civilizations) from their plight.” Source
The editorial cartoon “The White Man’s Burden” by Rudyard Kipling (1899) shows old white men John Bull and Uncle Sam delivering the world’s people of colour to civilisation. The people in the basket carried by Uncle Sam are labelled Cuba, Hawaii, Samoa, “Porto Rico”, and the Philippines, while the people in the basket carried by John Bull are labelled Zulu, China, India, “Soudan”, and Egypt.
That same Wikipedia page gives examples of movies that fall under this troupe—films like Glory (1989), Dangerous Minds (1995), Amistad (1997), Finding Forrester (2000), The Last Samurai (2003), Half Nelson(2006), Freedom Writers (2007), Gran Torino (2008), Avatar (2009), The Blind Side (2009).
More films are mentioned, including The Help (2011). Never seen. Never will. Honestly the only movie I’ve seen is Dangerous Minds and that was several lifetimes ago.
Fun fact, one noticeable, and problematic, actor stars in many of these propaganda movies. I’ll give you a hint.
It’s 2026 and I just recently watched Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) and it PISSED ME THE HELL OFF as a non-Native.
The historic events we are not taught as Americans is infuriating! And apparently the Osage Indian murders which occurred in Osage County, Oklahoma during the 1910s–1930s, when the film is set and depicts, isn’t openly discussed amongst Osage people either!
Killers of the Flower Moon is long as hell at over three hours 🤧, but it is a must see!
Although Killers of the Flower Moon isn’t categorized as a white savior movie, it was criticized by that First Nations actress Devery Jacobs that “each of the Osage characters felt painfully underwritten, while the white men were given way more courtesy and depth”. Agreed and is a common theme/criticism of white savior films when it comes to the depiction of non-white characters.
At its release, the film’s star, lead actress Lily Gladstone posted on social media encouraging Native people to “see it when and only if you feel ready, and see it with people you feel safe with. You’ll likely have a lot of generational grief to process”. Truly!
One, meaning me, could argue that the atrocities that happened to the Osage people by the white man are similar to the atrocities experienced by Blacks in the past (documented and undocumented) and is still happening to Blacks in recent times; Google “Abraham Shakespeare Florida Lottery”.
The instances happening now are more so happening willingly and/or with the help of the legal system—in the form of wealth transfer/generational wealth handed over and lost by Black athletes, Black celebrities, and everyday regular Black citizens to white women and men. But you’re not ready for that conversation.
For: Me … basicallY 
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