In a thought-provoking piece on Ars Marginal titled “Fandom and its hatred of Black women characters,” the pervasive issue of how fan communities often unfairly criticize and malign Black female characters in media was brought to light. This article highlighted a disturbing trend of negativity directed towards these characters, often based on harmful stereotypes. Reading this, a striking realization emerged: the character of Mercedes Jones from the popular musical TV show Glee embodies many of these very stereotypes, not merely in fan perception, but alarmingly, in her actual portrayal on the show itself. This raises a crucial question for a series like Glee, which ostensibly champions diversity and challenges societal norms: Did Glee inadvertently reinforce the very stereotypes it aimed to dismantle, particularly when it comes to the character of Mercedes and Black women in media?
The original Ars Marginal post listed a series of negative traits frequently attributed to disliked Black female characters by fandoms:
- They have an attitude problem.
- They’re lazy.
- They’re mean.
- They’re stupid.
- They’re ungrateful.
- They’re selfish.
- They’re sluts.
Upon reflection, it becomes unsettlingly clear that a significant number of these negative attributes are not just fan interpretations of Mercedes Jones in Glee, but are explicitly written into her character. This is especially jarring considering Glee‘s self-proclaimed commitment to celebrating diversity and portraying minority characters as breaking free from limiting stereotypes.
Glee’s Mixed Messages and the Diversity Paradox
Glee has always presented a complex and often contradictory message. At times, it seems to strive for the nuanced realism of shows like Freaks and Geeks, while at other moments, it veers into the simplistic moralizing of after-school specials, sometimes even resembling the exaggerated humor of Arrested Development. The show frequently tackles weighty social issues – misogyny, body image concerns, disability – yet often resolves these deeply ingrained problems with a facile song and dance number. Furthermore, Glee‘s portrayal of female characters in general has been subject to considerable criticism.
However, amidst these inconsistencies, one aspect that has often been lauded is Glee‘s apparent celebration of diverse backgrounds. Almost every member of the New Directions glee club possesses at least one character trait that actively subverts a common stereotype associated with their racial, ethnic, religious, or sexual identity.
Consider these examples within the Glee cast:
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Artie Abrams: A wheelchair user who dreams of dancing, Artie defies the stereotype of disabled individuals being limited in their aspirations. His passion for rap music and his (comically misguided) “gangsta” persona further challenge simplistic portrayals.
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Kurt Hummel and Blaine Anderson: As gay characters interested in fashion and musical theatre, they engage with LGBTQ+ stereotypes. However, Kurt’s involvement in his father’s garage and Blaine’s enthusiasm for football actively broaden their characterizations beyond these clichés.
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Santana Lopez: While embodying some aspects of the “sassy Latina” archetype, Santana’s character arc delves deeper. Her initial aggressive pursuit of boys is revealed to be a facade, masking her repressed lesbian identity and her fear of vulnerability and societal prejudice.
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Mike Chang and Tina Cohen-Chang: The show frequently reminds us of their Asian heritage, sometimes relying on the stereotype of Asian academic achievement. However, Tina’s past “goth” phase and her quirky vampire persona, alongside Mike’s blend of athleticism, artistry, and academic ability, offer more multifaceted representations. Moreover, Mike’s consistent portrayal as physically attractive challenges the underrepresentation or asexual depiction of Asian men in Western media.
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Noah “Puck” Puckerman: As a Jewish character, Puck breaks away from typical Jewish male portrayals. He is depicted as academically weak in math, irresistible to women, aggressively masculine (“sex shark”), and proudly embraces his religion, even while hilariously failing to adhere to religious norms.
Image of Mercedes Jones performing in Glee, showcasing her powerful vocals and stage presence. Alt text: Mercedes Jones powerfully sings on stage in Glee, highlighting her vocal talent and confident persona.
Mercedes Jones: Stereotyped Beyond “Sassy”?
And then there’s Mercedes Jones. She is introduced as Black, plus-size, and “sassy.” But beyond these surface traits, the show often struggles to define her beyond these very stereotypes. She becomes, problematically, only fat, black, and sassy.
The show often reduces her Blackness to a series of stereotypical tropes. Her desire to sing more songs is framed as a demand for “chocolate thunder,” and she envisions having “cocoa babies” with her Black boyfriend – a recurring motif that reduces Black identity to superficial, almost cartoonish, elements. Her favorite musical, predictably, is Dreamgirls, reinforcing the narrow expectation that Black artists are primarily drawn to Black-centric narratives. Even her memorable song “Hell to the No,” while catchy and well-performed, is built around a stereotypical Black catchphrase, blurring the line between character development and caricature.
Furthermore, Mercedes’s plus-size identity is frequently relegated to food-related storylines. Her primary subplot in season two revolves around her campaign to bring tater tots back to the school cafeteria. This reinforces the harmful stereotype of fat individuals, particularly Black fat women, being solely preoccupied with food. The same episode infamously features a Precious spoof with a plus-size Black character named “Cameo,” further demonstrating the show’s reliance on reductive and stereotypical portrayals. One might even wryly note that the show narrowly avoided having Mercedes advocate for fried chicken and watermelon, another deeply rooted and offensive stereotype.
The episode “Asian F,” intended to be a spotlight for Mercedes, ironically exacerbates the problem. It portrays her as “constantly” late for rehearsals (a claim unsupported by previous episodes) and resistant to learning choreography, introducing “lazy” and “entitled” to the growing list of stereotypical traits associated with her character. This is despite the fact that, unlike several other New Directions members, Mercedes has never dramatically quit the club before competitions for solo opportunities, never lip-synced in rehearsals, and has never been depicted as habitually late or absent. Suddenly, the writers retroactively portray her as perpetually lazy and a deficient dancer compared to Rachel Berry – a questionable assertion given Mercedes’ demonstrably strong dance performances in numbers like “River Deep, Mountain High.”
Of all the central characters in Glee, Mercedes Jones is arguably the most consistently defined by stereotypes. And the episodes meant to provide her with deeper character development often inadvertently deepen the stereotypical portrayal. The absence of other prominent Black characters on the show further isolates Mercedes within this limited representation, preventing any nuanced counter-narratives from emerging. While incorporating a few stereotypical traits into a character might be forgivable, the lack of clear motivations, long-term goals, or passions for Mercedes beyond “wanting to be in the spotlight” renders her characterization disappointingly shallow.
A Missed Opportunity: Beyond Stereotypes for Mercedes
The scene in “The Substitute” featuring Kurt, Blaine, and Mercedes perfectly encapsulates the show’s racial cluelessness. Kurt congratulates Blaine for “breaking the stereotype,” while in the same scene, Mercedes’ sole focus is on tater tots. This juxtaposition highlights the show’s superficial understanding of race and its failure to afford Mercedes the same depth and complexity given to its white and LGBTQ+ characters.
Glee had the potential to create a groundbreaking portrayal of a Black female character – a talented, ambitious, and multifaceted individual. Instead, Mercedes Jones is too often reduced to a collection of stereotypes, hindering her development and ultimately undermining the show’s purported message of diversity and inclusion. By confining Mercedes to these limiting tropes, Glee missed a crucial opportunity to showcase the richness and complexity of Black womanhood and contribute to more authentic and empowering representation in mainstream media. It serves as a potent reminder that even well-intentioned narratives can inadvertently perpetuate harmful stereotypes if not carefully constructed and critically examined.
Image of the Glee club members, including Mercedes, in a group setting, highlighting the ensemble cast and their diverse personalities. Alt text: The diverse cast of Glee club members, featuring Mercedes Jones among her peers, showcasing the show’s ensemble and varied character dynamics.
