The Other Black Girl is a 2021 social horror book by Zakiya Dalila Harris, and a 2023 mini-series on Hulu.
Nella Rogers (played on TV by Sinclair Davis) is the only black employee at Warner Books, an all-white publishing firm, and an aspiring assistant editor to the hot-and-cold Vera (Bellamy Young). Her position becomes even more tenuous when the firm's bestselling author (Brian Baumgartner) delivers his new novel to her — and it's extremely racist. Already conflicted about what to do, Nella is relieved when another black girl, Hazel-May McCall (Ashleigh Murray) arrives and advises her. However, after Hazel apparently betrays Nella over the book, Nella begins to wonder if Hazel is a friend or foe.
Nella tries to get back on Vera's good side by suggesting a reissue of their most famous book, which is written by reclusive black author and Nella's idol Diana Gordon (Garcelle Beauvais). Upon meeting Diana, though, Nella suspects that there's more going on at Warner Books than she knows. She unravels a vast conspiracy involving her boss Wagner (Eric McCormack) and even her own boyfriend, Owen (Hunter Parrish).
Tropes
- Always Someone Better: At least part of Nella's problem with Hazel is that she seems to make a consistent effort to embarrass and upstage her. Owen and even Nella herself wonder if this is just a manifestation of Nella's jealousy and ambition.
- Black Jezebel Stereotype: The trope is exactly the issue that Nella has with Colin's new book: that his only female character is a stereotypically-named "gangsta" welfare queen with multiple "baby daddies" involved in drugs.
- Celebrity Paradox: Nella asks Diana if she's ever heard of Shonda Rhimes, and then tells her she'd love Scandal. Bellamy Young (who plays Nella's then-former boss, Vera) was Mellie Grant in Scandal.
- False Friend: Nella believes that Hazel genuinely wants to be friends, until Hazel embarrasses her in front of Colin. She then goes backwards and forwards on whether Hazel is trying to manipulate or backstab her, or genuinely wants to be friends but is not good at showing it.
- Flat "Yes": When Sophie asks if their jobs are in danger, Nella flatly says "yes."
- Flawless Token: Invoked. This is the issue that Nella has with Hazel - that she's too good at fitting into exactly what their white employers want (and subtly or not so subtly showing up and embarrassing Nella at the same time). It's deliberate, and it's part of a conspiracy.
- Meaningful Name:
- Nella's name is a Shout-Out to Nella Larson, who wrote Passing (about the perils and difficulties of trying to "pass" as white as a black woman in New York).
- Hazel, the Flawless Token who tries to replace Nella (or does she?) is named for a shade of brown. Though it's not her real name.
