Amazon Prime’s Horror Anthology Series ‘Them’ Receives Incredible Backlash
Amazon Prime’s newest limited series, Them: Covenant, has been on the frontline of backlash due to the violent nature and its triggering content.
Them follows a black family composed of Henry Emory (Bashy), Lucky Emory (Deborah Ayorinde), and teenage Ruby (Shahadi Wright Joseph) and Gracie (Melody Hurd) in 1953 on the journey to escape their home in South Carolina due to racial terrors to bright and sunny Compton, California. However, the racism the family experiences do not end once they move into an all-white neighborhood where extremely racist neighbors and supernatural forces confront them. Upon arrival, the family has a sense of unwelcomeness but decides to stay because they want a better life for themselves and their two young daughters. Oh, how to come to regret ever leaving.
“Them,” and other recent projects have given new life to the debate over what many have characterized as “black trauma porn.”
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) April 19, 2021
We talked to some of the artists behind these projects who reacted to the sharp criticisms https://t.co/n74jmdbzzX pic.twitter.com/sfqniZo4hn
Breakout creator, Little Marvin, has tried his best to defend the nature of the show by stating the purpose of the show was to highlight the black experience of the time and called on graphic imagery to portray the grizzly nature of being an African-American in the United States. However, many are extremely upset by the show and several calls to have the show taken down due to its explicit nature.
DO NOT WATCH “THEM” ON AMAZON PRIME! THERE NEEDS TO BE A PETITION TO GET THAT SHOW TAKEN DOWN!!!!!!!!!
— SKINBYKYLE.COM 🧚🏾♂️ (@kyleskiki) April 14, 2021
The series has been described as “black trauma p*rn,” meaning that those who enjoy the series are enjoying it because of the fact the black characters in the show are being tortured. Despite the calls to take the show down, no action has been executed, and is most likely not going to due to the immense popularity and traffic the series has circulated.
Glitter Magazine Writer | Tweet me @gabbigabehart
