The magical negro trope in popular culture often portrays Black characters as mystical and supernatural, further perpetuating the harmful stereotype of us being “otherworldly" and, therefore, not fully human.
This idea was born as a way for white authors to prove somehow that Black people could be intelligent and "loyal." This ridiculous, backhanded compliment has led to stereotypes about Black people that have been around for hundreds of years with no signs of disappearing any time soon.
The trope can be seen in films like The Green Mile and The Legend of Bagger Vance. The Black characters in these films, and other works of fiction like them, literally exist to serve the interests of a downtrodden white person.
Tropes like this push the idea that we can't be powerful, helpful, or of value unless we're imbued with magic that aids or soothes whiteness. These narratives have had an incredibly negative impact on not only our community but also our collective consciousness.
We're powerful as a collective. Still, we should not be held responsible for the faults and inadequacies of white fragility and ignorance. We have value and have always been more than the token savior of white lives.