Elphaba is played by a black woman- and it changes everything

Elphaba's journey in part 1 of Wicked holds more meaning now that she is black

Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, changes how I view the movie Wicked. 

Before I get into how, I think it important to say that I have never seen the musical besides clips here and there, some being the songs, “Popular” and “Defying Gravity”. In my perusal of these clips, I have seen Elphaba played by a black woman, but I think the difference between now and then is two things. 

One, obviously, I have never seen the full musical, watching and knowing how the conflict comes to fruition. I quite literally did not know the full plot until I watched the movie in its entirety.

Two, they intentionally made her black in the movie. Again, I have never seen the musical, therefore, I do not know who was cast as her parents nor her sister, Nessa, but in this movie, one of her parents is black, and her sister is black. Elphaba even has a black hairstyle, called micro braids (which was such a great choice). We do not see that in the musical. 

From these observations alone, it is clear we have been given subliminal signs that this Elphaba is a black woman. From this point of view, the context of the conflict, songs, and messaging changes how I see the movie. Elphaba’s journey parallels the challenges, injustices, and oppression that black women in the country and around the world face.

Being Green

Elphaba has been green her entire life. This makes everyone around her fear, and view her as different, making her feel like she can never fit in. Despite the rejection from every direction, Elphaba has to remain strong to not appear weak; any sense of vulnerability and weakness gives her oppressors more power.

Intersectionality teaches us that Black women sit in a peculiar space under white supremacy. We are women and black, but we do not get treated the same as white women because of our blackness or as black men because of our womanness. Our oppression is not the same. As a result, in different spaces we inhabit, we are treated differently, sometimes fitting like an uneven tile that can’t quite fit perfectly into the spot designated for them. Because of that difference, people fear and question our existence. 

“I’m not that girl”

Elphaba’s love interest in the movie is Fiyero (Johnathan Bailey did his thing in that role btw). There is a hint of attraction between them throughout the movie, however, Fiyero is with Glinda. After a tender moment between the two, Fiyero leaves, leaving Elphaba to realize her feelings, and sadly sing the song “I’m Not That Girl”. Here are some of the lyrics:

"Blithe smile, lithe limb
She who's winsome, she wins him
Gold hair with a gentle curl
That's the girl he chose
And Heaven knows
I'm not that girl

Don't wish, don't start
Wishing only wounds the heart
I wasn't born for the rose and the pearl
There's a girl I know
He loves her so
I'm not that girl"

Here, she is languishing over Glinda and Fieryo’s budding relationship. I think it’s important to remember how everyone else views Elphaba at this time—she is looked down upon and viewed as an outcast, she is not “born for the rose and the pearl”. Because of how society views her, it devastates how she sees herself, as a girl who will never get the guy.

If you’ve ever listened to “Normal Girl” by SZA, you know where I’m going with this.

Black women are confident and so beautiful, but the unfortunate reality is that because of our blackness, we can be seen as less desirable, and have less worth attached to our name. Many can attest to this, especially in white spaces. And this sometimes, can bring self-image and self-worth issues affecting who we imagine ourselves to be with down the line.

Standing up for the oppressed

Black women were at the forefront of Black Lives Matter and supported numerous causes (e.g., Free Congo, Palestine, Sudan; Freedom for all peoples). Because of how we stand in the world, we can easily see injustice and the oppression of others, like Elphaba. Without giving away too much of the plot, something is going on in the land of OZ, animals, who can talk and have intellect like humans are disappearing and losing their ability to talk. Elphaba, being the person she is, befriended that last animal professor at Shiz University; she recognizes the injustices that she faces are similar to the animals of Oz, making her one of the few people who supported and stood up for the animals. Her support has detrimental consequences as I will explain next.

The Wicked Witch of the West

At the climax of the movie, we find out who is behind the disappearing animals, spoiler incoming!!!

We find out that the Wizard was behind it all, and seeks to put animals in cages, to keep them subservient. Rejecting to be part of the scheme, the Wizard propagandizes Oz, turning them against Elphaba, calling her “evil” and “wicked”, giving her the name, the Wicked Witch of the West.

The tropes of black women are manifestations of white supremacy’s propaganda against black women. Become too vocal, and you’re “the sapphire” an aggressive angry, or sassy black woman. Become too giving or caring, you’re “the mammy”, a woman dedicated to a life of servitude. You can’t be sexually free, or you are viewed as “the jezebel”, the promiscuous woman. The actions we take, get rewritten into an archetype that ultimately hurts and devalues us.

On a more grand scale, given the state of this country at the moment, with groups criticizing Israel and calling for a US arms embargo being increasingly suppressed and surveilled by the police, it is clear that like Elphaba, those who are in opposition to the state apparatus, can easily be labeled as the enemy. Just yesterday, the House passed a bill where the government can target non-profit groups it believes to support “terrorism”. If passed by the Senate, this gives the state the power to rid of groups that are vocal in their support against genocide, and any other cause the US deems as a threat.

“and if I’m flying solo, at least I’m flying free”

In Wicked’s most well-known song, “Defying Gravity” it goes:

"So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky!
As someone told me lately
"Everyone deserves the chance to fly!"
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me

Tell them how I am defying gravity!
I'm flying high, defying gravity!
And soon, I'll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!"

We have many injustices and challenges that can weigh us down, and often we are the only ones in the room willing to fight for change. Despite these obstacles, the black women I know, are still doing what we do—showing up and fighting for our liberation. As the song says, “And if I'm flying solo, at least I’m flying free”.