Hollywood’s Illusion of Inclusivity: The Minority Sidekick Cliché

By Zora Kings

In the world of Hollywood cinema, tropes are the unsung stars of the show. These recurring themes shape our favorite films and TV series, from lovable romances to chilling horrors. While some tropes are considered classics, such as the enemies-to-lovers romance trope and the cheesy “He’s right behind me, isn’t he?” phrase, others are criticized for perpetuating stereotypes amongst populations. 

One of Hollywood’s most scrutinized tropes is referred to as the “Minority Sidekick,” also known as the “POC (Person of Color) Best Friend.” An issue that has been around since the beginning of Hollywood until today. We see this in many films and TV, such as the eerie thriller Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023) and the corporate world of Succession (2018-2023). Characters like Jeremiah, a minor character portrayed by an African American actor in FNAF, and Stewy, an Iranian-American actor from Succession, remind us, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, that although we are seeing a shift for more diversity in Hollywood, certain tropes persist. 

While iconic friendship duos like Cher and Dionne from Clueless (1995), Rory and Lane from Gilmore Girls (2000-2007), and Peter and Ned from the latest Spiderman movie series are classic pieces from our youths, they serve as perfect examples of the aliveness of the Minority Sidekick. If you are not yet aware of this trope, chances are you’ll be able to spot it in the next Hollywood film you watch. 

 

What is the Minority Sidekick trope in Hollywood?

The Minority Sidekick is a secondary character, who is a person of color or a part of a marginalized community whose main goal is to support and uplift the white main character(s). These characters are the best friends or sidekicks, offering a glimpse into Hollywood’s often problematic portrayal of diversity. 

These characters have three main characteristics:

  1. They get substantially less screen time than the white protagonist(s)
  2. They rarely have a storyline outside the main character. We often know very little about them, serving as a plot device with almost no agency. 
  3. Their roles often perpetuate some type of stereotype, e.g., the smart Asian friend, the sassy Black girl, etc. 

Minority Sidekicks are seen as token characters for diversity. These sidekicks rarely engage in dialogue outside of the protagonist’s problems; they are there to assist the lead and simply move the plot forward while giving an illusion of racial inclusivity (NALIP). 

 

A White Hollywood

The American mainstream entertainment industry is infamous for being dominated by white talent. Diverse actors and directors rarely take part in large Hollywood movies. According to a study from 1995-2014, white directors made 89.3% of the 2,000 films that comprised the 100 top-grossing films (Kim, Brunn-Bevel, et al). The lack of diversity in movie directors is translating to a lack of diversity in casting and lead roles.

In the last 15 years, diversity in Hollywood has barely moved. Asian actors were the only ethnic group that showed a significant increase in representation, with speaking roles jumping from 3.4% to 15.9%. The rest stayed about the same. Black actors went from 13.0% to 13.4%, and Latino actors went from 3.3% to 5.2% (Dockterman). While Hollywood has made strides in diversity efforts, the industry still has a long way to go to be inclusive. 

Mainstream Hollywood fails to promote films and actors with individuals from marginalized groups. It utilizes the “Best Friend” or “Sidekick” archetype as a strategy for faking diversity while perpetuating the white status quo. In the words of Dana Polan, esteemed New York University cinema studies professor and author, “Hollywood’s seeming inclusiveness is often just a way of continuing to present whiteness as the center around which everyone else revolves… [which] allows Hollywood to have it both ways — be hip and liberal, and quite conservative and unchanging, at the same time.”

 

The Need for Diverse Representation

Diverse representation in the mainstream entertainment industry is crucial and should continue to be improved. The minority sidekick trope can leave a lasting negative impact on impressionable viewers. As an African-American woman who regularly enjoys going to the movies and binge-watching television shows, I was deeply impacted by the lack of representation in media narratives. For a long time, I believed I was destined to be a side character instead of the protagonist or the love interest. It was rare that I felt represented; I was unsure of what my story could be when my options were limited on-screen. This topic was common among my peers from diverse backgrounds. As I was one of the only Black people in my schools, I was deprived of representation. Because of this, I would turn to television and cinema. 

This harmful trope also affects talented actors who have been shunned from auditioning for specific roles. Highly gifted actress and EGOT winner Viola Davis addresses this in her brilliant memoir “Finding Me: A Memoir,” where she found herself usually auditioning for best friend roles as she was told as a Black woman that she was not a desirable lead. 

Everyone deserves to see themselves authentically on the big screen. People of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and other members of marginalized communities are more than a punch line or a sidekick designed to help their white peers. They are more than a side character reduced to a stereotype. Diverse populations deserve to be the main character and the love interest. They should be given the privilege to make their own mistakes, forge their journeys, and be offered the same room for growth and development as their white counterparts. 

Recognizing the importance of diverse representation in the mainstream entertainment industry and understanding its impact on shaping societal perceptions highlights the need for continued improvement of inclusivity in Hollywood. I urge readers to advocate for positive change by supporting diverse movies and shows authentically representing diverse voices and experiences, starting conversations that draw light to this issue, and advocating for initiatives to promote inclusive casting. 

Movies and television should serve as catalysts and offer a positive and empowering space for young individuals from marginalized communities and beyond. It’s time for Hollywood to break free of this tired trope and embrace narratives that accurately reflect the richness of the human experience (Kings).