On Writing Black Characters: Humanity Over Stereotypes

“My advice will always be this: the backlash comes when white writers create Black stereotypes instead of writing Black humans. We fear, we hurt, we have ups and downs, we have wins and losses. Write to our humanity, not to your idea of ‘Blackness.’”

When it comes to writing Black characters, one of the biggest pitfalls non-Black writers fall into is leaning on stereotypes rather than crafting fully realized, nuanced people. Too often, Blackness is portrayed as a monolith—flattened into caricatures that center trauma, poverty, or crime as if that is the sum of our existence. But here’s the thing:

Black people are not tropes. We are not checkboxes. We are not here to be sidekicks, comic relief, or background noise in a white-centered story.

The Problem with Stereotypes

Stereotypes exist because they’re easy. They’re the shortcut writers take when they don’t put in the work to understand a character beyond race. But when you reduce Black characters to overused tropes—like the magical Negro, the thug, the sassy best friend, or the struggling single mother—you strip them of their humanity. Instead of allowing them to be complex, flawed, and multi-dimensional, they become predictable and one-dimensional.

Readers notice this. We feel it. And that’s where the blow back comes from. Because time and time again, we see our stories mishandled, our voices ignored, and our experiences flattened into digestible stereotypes.

Writing Black Characters with Depth

So, how do you write Black characters with authenticity? The same way you write any good character: you develop them as full people, beyond race.

1. Ask the Right Questions

• What does this character want?

• What are their fears, dreams, and motivations?

• How do they change throughout the story?

• What are their relationships like—with family, friends, and community?

If the only thing defining your Black character is their Blackness, then you’re not writing a character—you’re writing a stereotype.

2. Avoid the “Struggle Narrative” Trap

Yes, some Black people have faced struggles related to racism, poverty, or systemic oppression. But that’s not all we are. We fall in love. We go on adventures. We experience joy, heartache, laughter, and every other emotion under the sun.

Blackness is not just struggle. It is not just pain. It is also magic, resilience, brilliance, and love.

If your Black character’s only arc revolves around overcoming racial trauma, ask yourself why. Are you using their pain as a plot device? Are you centering Black suffering instead of Black life?

3. Give Them Agency

A Black character should not exist solely to uplift, guide, or teach a white protagonist. They should not be the “wise mentor” whose only purpose is to help the main (often white) character grow. Black characters deserve their own goals, conflicts, and resolutions.

Black Folks deserve to be the heroes of their own stories.

4. Do Your Research—And Then Do More

If you’re writing outside of your lived experience, research is non-negotiable. Read books by Black authors. Follow Black creators. Listen to Black voices. And if you’re still unsure, hire a sensitivity reader who can provide feedback on your portrayal of Black characters.

Final Thoughts: Writing Beyond Race

At the end of the day, writing Black characters shouldn’t be about crafting a “Black” story—it should be about crafting a human story. Blackness is not a gimmick. It’s not an aesthetic. It’s not a plot twist. It’s a lived experience, full of depth, diversity, and compassion.

Leave writing “blackness” to Black folks. You worry about writing to our humanity.

So, when you sit down to write a Black character, don’t write to your idea of “Blackness.” Write to our humanity. That’s how you get it right.