Some of the most ruthless characters in Black television and film weren’t always wrong. From Papa Pope’s unforgettable lectures on power in “Scandal” to Toni Childs refusing to apologize for her standards on “Girlfriends,” these characters lied, manipulated, betrayed, and occasionally made everybody’s lives miserable. But every now and then, they delivered a truth nobody else wanted to hear.
We don’t have to defend their actions to admit they were onto something.
Suggested Reading
Papa Pope — “Scandal”
Papa Pope was a manipulative, murderous father who somehow managed to turn every conversation into a lecture you couldn’t ignore. Remember his infamous speech to Olivia about having to be twice as good to get half of what others have? Underneath all the intimidation was a harsh truth about race, privilege, and the pressure placed on Black professionals to be exceptional just to receive ordinary opportunities. Rowan was a terrible father, but when it came to understanding how power worked in America, the man wasn’t entirely wrong.
Toni Childs — “Girlfriends”
Toni Childs could be selfish, materialistic, and an absolutely exhausting friend, but she was never confused about what she wanted. While Joan spent years questioning her relationships and romantic expectations, Toni made it clear that she wanted financial security, commitment, and a certain lifestyle. Sure, she sometimes prioritized money and appearances over genuine connection, but was she wrong for believing women should have standards? Absolutely not. Toni’s problem wasn’t knowing her worth. It was occasionally forgetting that other people had feelings, too. And let’s not forget when she checked Lynn’s sister for trying to be Black.
Lady Mae Greenleaf — “Greenleaf”
Lady Mae could deliver a devastating read without ever raising her voice. As the powerful matriarch of the Greenleaf family, she was obsessed with reputation, appearances, and keeping the family together, even when that meant covering up some very ugly truths. Lady Mae was often guilty of the hypocrisy she condemned, but her observations about religious institutions and the people running them were worth examining.
Elektra Wintour — “Pose”
Nobody could read somebody quite like Elektra. The legendary ballroom mother was arrogant, demanding, and sometimes downright cruel to the very people who looked to her for guidance. Still, her understanding of survival as a Black trans woman came from experience. Elektra knew that beauty, talent, and confidence couldn’t always protect someone from discrimination or financial instability. Her insistence on independence and self-preservation wasn’t necessarily wrong, even if she sometimes confused being strong with being ruthless.
Erik Killmonger — “Black Panther”
Killmonger wanted to seize Wakanda’s throne and use its technology and weapons to fuel a global uprising. His methods were dangerous, but his criticism of Wakanda’s isolationism raised a question T’Challa couldn’t ignore, which is what responsibility does a powerful African nation have to Black people suffering throughout the diaspora? Killmonger wasn’t wrong to question why Wakanda had the resources to help but chose to remain hidden. In fact, his challenge ultimately helped change T’Challa’s approach to the outside world. Sometimes, even the villain forces the hero to rethink everything.
Wilhelmina Slater — “Ugly Betty”
Wilhelmina Slater spent years building her career at MODE, only to watch Daniel Meade, the publisher’s inexperienced son, receive the editor-in-chief position she wanted. She understood that talent and hard work don’t always guarantee advancement, especially when powerful connections are deciding who gets ahead.
Shelby Taylor — “The Best Man: The Final Chapters”
Shelby spent years being the friend nobody wanted to deal with. She was petty, dramatic, and sometimes so brutally honest that you almost wanted somebody to take her microphone away. But “The Best Man: The Final Chapters” gave audiences a more vulnerable look at the woman behind all that attitude. Her complicated relationship with Quentin raised questions about commitment, acceptance, and whether someone should have to change their entire personality to be worthy of love. Shelby had plenty of growing up to do, but she wasn’t wrong for wanting a partner who genuinely chose her.
Lucious Lyon — Empire
Lucious Lyon was a ruthless businessman and an even more complicated father. He manipulated his children, mistreated Cookie, and did almost anything to protect Empire Entertainment. Yet beneath all that toxicity was a man who understood the importance of ownership in the music business. Lucious knew that talent alone wasn’t enough to build lasting wealth, especially in an industry where artists can lose control of their work. His lessons about business, leverage, and protecting what you build were valuable, even if he consistently failed to practice that same respect at home.
Amanda Waller — “The Suicide Squad”
Amanda Waller might be one of the most terrifying people in the DC universe, and she doesn’t need superpowers to prove it. She’s willing to threaten, manipulate, and sacrifice almost anybody to accomplish a mission. But Waller also exposes an uncomfortable truth about institutions: Those in power often make decisions based on political interests rather than morality. She understands that the people claiming to protect society aren’t always operating with clean hands.
Monet Tejada — “Power Book II: Ghost”
Monet Tejada believed that family loyalty was everything, provided everybody followed her rules. The Tejada matriarch was controlling, manipulative, and often responsible for the very chaos she blamed on everyone else. Still, Monet understood the dangers of trusting the wrong people and allowing emotions to interfere with serious decisions. She even sacrificed her life for her kids after years of going back and forth with them. No matter what, she had a heart and loved her babies.
Raquel “Raq” Thomas — “Power Book III: Raising Kanan”
Raq Thomas was a force to be reckoned with long before Kanan became the person audiences met in the original “Power.” She built a drug empire in a dangerous environment and understood that power required strategy, discipline, and knowing when someone was trying to play you. Her warnings to Kanan about trust and survival weren’t entirely wrong. Unfortunately, Raq’s determination to control her son’s life often pushed him toward the very violence and betrayal she claimed she wanted to protect him from. Still, no matter what, she always wanted to protect him.
Stringer Bell — “The Wire”
Stringer Bell wasn’t interested in being a street-level drug dealer forever. He wanted legitimacy, investments, and an operation that functioned like a real business. While Avon Barksdale remained committed to the rules of the streets, Stringer understood that constant violence was bad for business and that money could create opportunities beyond the drug trade. His ambition exposed how closely legitimate commerce and criminal enterprises could resemble each other. He wasn’t wrong about the need to evolve, but he underestimated just how difficult escaping that world would be.
Cottonmouth — “Luke Cage”
Cornell “Cottonmouth” Stokes was a Harlem nightclub owner and crime boss who desperately wanted to be respected as a legitimate businessman. Although he used violence and intimidation to maintain control, his character exposed the blurred lines between politics, money, and criminal influence. Cottonmouth understood that having the right connections could sometimes matter more than doing the right thing.
Franklin Saint — “Snowfall”
Franklin Saint started with ambition and the desire to create opportunities for himself, but his pursuit of wealth eventually destroyed nearly everything around him. Throughout “Snowfall,” Franklin confronted the economic barriers facing young Black men while trying to build a life outside the limitations of his neighborhood. His frustrations with unequal opportunity were understandable. What wasn’t defensible was the devastating harm his drug empire caused. Franklin’s story is a reminder that recognizing an unjust system doesn’t automatically justify the choices someone makes to escape it.
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