The Black Queer Brilliance of 'Wicked'

Now officially the highest-grossing film adaptation of a Broadway musical, Wicked has taken the world by storm. The film has garnered a laundry list of accolades, such as raking in $700 million and receiving 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Actress nods for Cynthia Erivo. While the film’s length has received critiques, Erivo has been almost universally lauded. A review on Rotten Tomatoes says, “Fly, don’t run to the theatres to see the magic of Erivo.”

Time Magazine called her performance “spell-binding,” and Cinemacy says “Erivo brought the magic.”  I couldn’t agree more. 

Wicked is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, and gives us the backstory to the Wicked Witch Of The West (Erivo).  In the film, Erivo plays opposite Ariana Grande and embodies “Elphaba,” an outcast and outsider with Green skin forced to be roommates with the popular girl (“Glinda-the good witch). Whether due to her attire, green skin, or quirks, Elphaba just can’t seem to fit in. 

I’ve seen Wicked on stage countless times, but the film delivered an impact unlike any other. I indeed applauded the live vocals of Erivo and Grande. I loved the meticulous attention to exquisite sets. But these weren’t the most moving.

For the first time, Wicked—a story rooted in self-love, oppression, prejudice, and equality—cast a Black queer woman as Elphaba. Cynthia Erivo may not have won most of the awards she was nominated for, but her performance was a victory for Black queer representation. That deserves recognition.

“Of Course, It’s Cynthia”

Cynthia Erivo is British by nationality and citizenship, but her ethnicity is Nigerian, as she is a first-generation Nigerian immigrant. She has played iconic roles, such as Harriet Tubman and Celie, in The Color Purple stage musical. Missing an Oscar, Erivo is just one award away from “EGOT” status. This alone is already memorable, and ought to enshrine her in entertainment history. 

But to add to this, Cynthia is openly queer and actively dating Lena Waithe. She is one of the few examples of a Black lesbian succeeding in Hollywood; she just so happens also to be a bald woman who is a British immigrant of Nigerian heritage. When asked about her hair and other aspects of her looks, Erivo’s confidence shines through. In a recent interview with Elle UK, Erivo pushed back and said , "I keep spotting people saying, why is she bald? She needs to get a wig. Why does it bother you so much that I don’t want to wander around with blonde tresses? I like my bald head. There’s nothing wrong with my hair. I just like my face."

“What’s most striking is that Erivo, a bald, queer, Black British immigrant of Nigerian ancestry, was so undeniably talented that few questioned her casting in one of the most iconic roles of the past 25 years.”

Erivo’s voice and tone can best be described as pure, bordering on angelic. After hundreds of auditions, Director Jon Chu said “of course, it’s Cynthia.” (you can see her audition here). 

What’s most striking is that Erivo, a bald, queer, Black British immigrant of Nigerian ancestry, was so undeniably talented that few questioned her casting in one of the most iconic roles of the past 25 years. That, in itself, is groundbreaking as up until this point, Elphaba has never been played by a Black woman. This is true despite Elphaba being the only character with Green skin. 

What can Wicked Tell us About Being Black & Queer?

Casting Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba was revolutionary, but the actual impact becomes clear when Wicked's story is deconstructed. Seeing a Black queer person embody Elphaba felt like turning on a light in a room I didn’t realize had always been dim. Yes, I could see some of the story, but now, the themes were much more illuminated with Erivo. The hatred and erasure Erivo faced in Wicked mirrors the onslaught of vitriol and silencing Black queer people experience now. When fighting for justice and liberating others, Elphaba was repeatedly silenced, dismissed, and forced to navigate a system that was never meant for her- this mirrors the relentless racism and homophobia Black queer people face. She even faced bullying and problems in school- a popular experience of Black queer kids. She was also forced to hide her magic from those around her. Sound familiar? While fictional, Erivo as Elphaba unveils a vital truth-society doesn’t punish those who are dangerous. It punishes those who refuse to conform, and Black queer people often fall into this category.

“Seeing a Black queer person embody Elphaba felt like turning on a light in a room I didn’t realize had always been dim.”

Digging Deeper: What do the songs say?

Like many Black queer folks, Elphaba initially begs for acceptance but augments her autonomy and power by the end of the movie. I will never forget hearing Erivo, a Black queer woman belt out “And If I’m flying solo, at least I’m flying free.”  The film ends with her soaring above her enemies, but before we get to Defying Gravity, let’s look at other connections between Wicked and the real-world Black queer experience.

1. On the surface, "What Is This Feeling?" is a comedic take on an instant rivalry, but beneath the humor, it captures a deeper issue- the confusion and intense feeling of same-gender attraction. For example, the opening lines—“What is this feeling, so sudden and new? I felt the moment I laid eyes on you” exemplify the moment of queer realization, when attraction strikes without warning. Or clear explanation. Almost every Black queer person can remember feeling an attraction that others perceive as odd, but not able to name it. We knew who we were before we had words to describe it or why we felt a certain way. 

   This indescribable and sustained feeling becomes more apparent in “I’m Not That Girl," where Elphaba resigns herself to unrequited love. “Don’t dream too far, don’t lose sight of who you are,” painfully resonates with Black queer people who have been conditioned to believe our desires and certainly love are out of reach. And for Black queer men who may have fantasized over straight men, “Im Not That Girl” really hits differently as their crushes are out of reach. 

2. In "The Wizard and I," like many Black queer people, Elphaba dreams of a future where her differences are not just accepted but celebrated. After a teacher notices her uniqueness and brilliance (again, sound familiar), the song opens,  “Have I actually understood? This weird quirk I tried to suppress or hide is a talent that could help me meet the Wizard.”

   Elphaba believes her talent will win the Wizard’s approval and will change everything; Erivo (Elphaba) perceives the Wizard as a beacon of safety and salvation.  Black queer individuals, like myself, often face this same issue; the desire to find someone or somewhere safe. 

   Throughout the movie, Elphaba learns a hard lesson that mirrors Black queer reality-acceptance is not guaranteed due to one’s talent or promise. Like many families, The Wizard offers conditional acceptance only, and that condition requires a radical change of who Elphaba is and what she wants out of life. 

3. In "Defying Gravity," Elphaba sings, “Something has changed within me, something is not the same.” Erivo names the moment of realization that so many Black queer people face—the understanding that we cannot shrink to fit conditions or structures that never wanted to see us survive, let alone fly. We have all had a defying gravity moment- the moment we moved from embarrassment to empowerment, from anger to acceptance, from petrified to prideful.

Now, I see Wicked as a metaphor for Black queer survival.

Elphaba is framed as dangerous, not because of anything she has done. She was feared for who she was. Her green skin marked her as different. Just as Blackness disrupts a world built for whiteness. Just like queerness disrupts heteronormativity. People fear what they do not understand-this can be fictional Green skin in a musical or Black queer skin in real life. Cynthia Erivo has both.