No doubt, he's an excellent actor. But this movie's setting is 1880-1881, and Freeman is black.
When I first saw Ned, I assumed his race would play a role in some way; I figured people would bring it up a lot. Realistically, his race would be a big deal in this setting.
But there was ... nothing. It's as if Ned's race meant nothing, which is unrealistic. Why did they randomly cast a black man in this role?
I thought the same thing years ago when I saw the movie, but here's a fact that will blow your mind: 25% of cowboys in the Wild West were black.
From Wikipedia: "Black cowboys in the American West accounted for up to 25 percent of workers in the range-cattle industry from the 1860s to 1880s, estimated to be between 6,000 and 9,000 workers."
If you were looking for work, the Wild West was where you went. It was incredibly diverse for its time. Ex-slaves from the South, Asians who came over to work the railroads or try their hand at the Gold Rush, Mexicans (of course). Regarding genders, women found a lot of power and were pioneers as well. Think about Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane.
You could say the Wild West was the leader in pushing diversity in America.
25% of cattle workers might have been Black, but does that mean it was acceptable or normalized:? Could a black man walk in an all-white, small town saloon in Nebraska, have a drink, and see prostitutes the way Freeman does in this movie? Could he avoid hearing anyone call him the n-work even once?
share> 25% of cowboys in the Wild West were black.
That.
There were a lot of independent free black people outside the South/Slave states.
Because in the Western US at that time being black was not a big deal. And I doubt there was anything remotely random about casting Freeman. He was among the best actors in the business at that time, and perfect for the role.
shareAre you a foreign national, OP? How does an American not know that blacks were hired as part of the infantry in the Old West? It was these men who were referred to as "buffalo soldiers" by American Indians: https://www.history.com/topics/westward-expansion/buffalo-soldiers
I wish foreign nationals would STFU about American history.
I wish foreign nationals would STFU about American history.
His race did play a role are you blind?
He was whipped to death and he died for the sins of others like Jesus. Classic magic negro characterization.
As William said "So Ned died for what we did?"...
Clint wanted Ned's death to pack an emotional punch so depicting a morally superior black man accomplishes that.
A lot of Blacks went out West after the war, there were job opportunities and plenty of land if you were able to tame and farm it.
I’m not certain Ned would have been welcomed into a White house of prostitution though.
Personally I have no problem with his character existing in the film. I have a problem that this once killer gunfighter turned into a peacenik moralist who died for everybody else's sins which is classic magic negro characterization.
shareHis death was what made Munny go on the warpath at the end, it was needed for the story. Munny was ready to go back to his pig farm.
shareThe main reason would be Freeman was a major box office draw.