I keep getting told that Raffi is a negative black stereotype.
Anyone else get this?
Some could perceive it this way, however for a role such as Raffi, it is more than likely meant to point an uncomfortable lense at the combination of :
1. Mental Health on the whole, but especially within the Black Community or minority community because it is even more heavily stigmatized than in general American mainstream society (which is pretty poor to begin with). Also the fact that the higher the IQ of an individual goes, the higher by percentage the likely hood of neuroatypical design leading to mental health issues. It also deals with how a tragic event impacts those who aren't 'normals', but are truly neuro-physiologically different. in other words why some seem unphased, some mourn then rebound, some break, and some wander lost emotionally after great tragedy. It also makes us look at those of genius IQ who once they express a true mental health crisis are forever stigmatized. Even if they are a far better person than the average human they are shunned and pushed away. They are disregarded, belittled, and most automatically treated by someone as if they are broken and unreliable. All of which is beyond insult to someone who's IQ is closer to 200 than 100. Of course this kind of negative treatment then winds up giving the negligent, abusive, negative society exactly what it is 'expecting'. An isolated withdrawn unstable individual, that they can point their finger at and say "See we were right all along." This is the truth of the mental health system/perception in America and majority of the world. Those many who belittle others because they are Bi Polar, Autistic, or unspecified/super rare neuroatypical design like we are broken children, are actually denigrating someone who is a far better person than the abuser. Or we are allowed to run a muck and cause havoc because society cant understand that just because you are rich doesn't mean you aren't suffering from severe mental health issues. Interestingly enough, this lack of understanding, and negative/false perception of mental illness is also how power hungry mentally ill people get into power....
2. Drug Use even in an perceived ideal society. More importantly how those with mild mental health needs, can grow to severe impairments without a proper micro and macro social structure designed to actually give a sh*t and truly help in totality. So instead those suffering, self medicate with more mild 'drugs' to 'get by'. Some maintain, or are helped by the usage, some wind up going down the rabbit hole. This then ties back to #1 where when someone with mental health needs is shunned for whatever reason if they were ONCE a respected individual, what are they left with? If they have never been given real help their entire life, exactly what do expect is going to happen to them? A happy ending? Them just one time getting better? Sorry it doesn't work that way. It then also deals with the massive collateral damaged caused when these two things combine in someone who is a parent.
Just my dissection of the character and the reasons for them, within the structure of the story narrative. Especially since it is one of the major issues effecting society and all....