21st Century Black Woman

*SPOILERS*

On April 19th, my boyfriend and I went on a movie date to watch Sinners. Seeing how fast the positive reviews were flowing in, I was excited for the viewing experience that lay ahead. The film begins with Annie (played by Wunmi Mosaku) narrating over animation. She states that some people possess the capability to connect with their ancestors and descendants through music. She describes this ability as a spiritual gift, but also warns us (the audience) that this same gift can attract evil spirits, too. The film explores Black southern cultures’ relationship with music, religion, spirituality, and oppression. With a movie drenched in black imagery and themes, Annie’s lack in popularity compared to the rest of the core characters saddens me. We should hear more conversations about the vital role she played. 

She is responsible for laying the foundation of the story’s conflict in a clear and concise way. In my opinion, Annie is the foundation of the film. She is an essential part of the movie: aiding the rest of the characters by utilizing her knowledge of spirituality to combat the evil spirits (vampires). Similar to her character, Wunmi Mosaku’s stellar performance is usually absent within the popular conversations regarding the movie. Anytime Mosaku is actually discussed, there is an insidious common line of thinking amongst a great deal of audience members. Unsurprisingly, many movie goers mistook her as the matriarch of the film. I understand how deeply rooted colorism and fatphobia is, but it is admittedly disappointing when that rhetoric is perpetuated by the same community the movie represents. I’m saddened at that narrative, but not an ounce surprised. 

I first became privy to the misconception of the character while scrolling through Tik Tok. A young black man admitted to believing that Annie was Smoke and Stack’s mother at first glance. To his credit, he was able to identify preconceived notions regarding the roles plus size black women are mostly given. His willingness to unpack his unconscious bias out in the open was admirable. I did feel a ping of irritation, however, knowing that others wouldn’t have the capacity to do the same. I first ran across Mosaku in her role as Ruby Baptiste in the short lived show LoveCraft Country. Within the universe of the show, she was depicted as sensuous and an object of desire. I was delighted to see an unambiguously black, attractive, full figured woman play a role that many are denied access to. I figured Ryan Coogler sought her out as Smoke’s love interest for the reasons I listed. I was under the assumption that that would translate on screen to others as well. As we all know now, it did not. 

If you’re reading this, I’m sure you get the gist. The depictions of black women in popular media are generally limited to the stereotypes that follow us. In the case of the character, Annie, her darker complexion and body type would typically categorize her as the desexualized caretaker. In simpler terms, the “Mammy” caricature. The specific aesthetic and expectation of the “Mammy” has permeated the minds of film consumers for decades. It is fascinating to witness other black people unpack their own biases due to the images we’ve been fed countless times. Many viewers admitted to being shocked while viewing the sex scene between Annie and Smoke (played by Michael B Jordan). This shared response speaks to the limited opportunities black women are given. Even in 2025, audiences are still taken aback when they are faced with a plus size black woman in a role as a leading lady. Unfortunately, it is new for most people to acknowledge women who look like Annie as sexually charged and desired. Hollywood and the media have done their best to erase the complexity of black female characters in order to fit them into a tiny box for easy consumption. And Annie is reaping the repercussions of that.

The perimeters around desirability are especially narrow. And audiences expect to be fed those same finite ideals of desirability within the media. I’ve noticed stark differences in how Mosaku is received in comparison to her other co-stars. Hailee Steinfeld (who plays Mary) has been at the receiving end of endless praise, admiration, and, for lack of a better word, thirst. To be clear, I’m not making this comparison to pit women against each other. I actually really enjoyed watching Steinfeld’s performance in the film. Her ability to conjure that southern drawl mostly associated with older black women was admittedly amusing. Her understanding of the character was also apparent through her acting. However, I know that this praise is due to society’s pedestalization of thin, white women. I also am aware of the phenomenon that happens when a sole white person shows any degree of talent within a black space. Some black people are quick to embrace white people partaking in activities and behaviors that are commonly applied to us. At times, their inclusion unnecessarily takes up space from the culture that they drew inspiration from. I believe a lot of us are searching for validation from the outside world or higher society. Oftentimes, Blackness itself is othered. I empathize with the impulse to hurriedly share our spaces with others to feel a larger sense of belonging. However, it is disappointing to witness this same issue unravel around a film with such Black star power. It’s discouraging to observe the media prop up an outsider as one of the breakout stars of a film, when its primary focus was that of the old Black south. 

As I finish writing this, Sinners has been out for almost 3 weeks. As the film grows in popularity, I can’t help but share in the excitement of an original Black film receiving so much love. The film has so many hidden meanings and messages that viewers can sink their teeth into. I’ve watched the film three times already and notice something new after every viewing. As I track the discourse, I’m noticing an uptick of black women talking about their love of the character, Annie. Many women are flocking to social media to honor the “Annies” of their lives; The matriarchs that were deeply loved and desired by the “Smokes” they grew up with. I’m satisfied with knowing that different arrays of black women will see themselves or someone they know in this film. This piece of cinema is a “lightning in a bottle” moment. Everything in this film aligns perfectly, sparking a special moment amongst black movie goers. I’m optimistic that unique roles for black women will open up due to the success of this movie. One of my favorite things about the film is its thoughtful curation. I’m hopeful that Sinners will have the power to pass along some of that thoughtfulness regarding women who are similar to Annie. I can only hope audiences unpack their own biases before the next movie starts.