The Walking Dead executive producer disscuses deaths of black characters

In a written interview at Variety.com Gale Anne Hurd, the executive producer of The Walking Dead discussed the deaths of black characters. She had a very interesting answer. I don't know if it will make some fans happy but it seems like an honest answer.

Here's the interview excerpt:

VARIETY: There’s been some controversy this season over the deaths of three significant black male characters (Lawrence Gilliard Jr. as Bob, Chad L. Coleman as Tyreese and Tyler James Williams as Noah). Was there any debate about that in the writers room or after the reaction on social media?

GALE ANN HURD: We have to go with the story. It’s really important to cast the best actors. Two of those characters were white in the comics. They could’ve been any ethnicity. Our casting calls are completely open and we always go with the best actor. Would African American actors want to be told, “We’re not casting you, because in the storyline we’re going to kill you off?” That’s how we have to look at it. We want the best actor and then we have to stick to the storyline that was crafted months before we even cast the roles.

So, do you like that answer?

The Walking Dead's add one black man kill one black man rule.

Now let me first state that I love AMC's The Walking Dead, it's my favorite TV show. It's also one of the most diverse, well written, and acted shows on television. But I have noticed one troublesome trend, being the old black male character when a new black male character shows up is the equivalent of being a "red shirt" on Star Trek. I like to call it the add a black man kill a black man rule.

Think about it. Yeah T-Dog didn't actually do shit but he was doing okay until Tyreese showed up and then what happened? T-Dog died, although heroically while saving Carol. For a minute Oscar a former prisoner was with the group but he too kicked the bucket not too long after the character of Tyreese was introduced. Then Later Bob shows up but since there were only two black guys everything seemed cool. But as luck would have it Noah and Father Gabriel showed up. Four black guys at one time! Ah, hell naw! So not to long after Bob becomes barbecue. A little latter in one of the best Walking Dead episodes ever Tyreese dies after having one hell of a fever dream and getting bit by a kid walker. Really? I mean the TV version of the character pissed me off more often than not but he could have went out better than that. Am I the only one noticing a pattern here?

And no I did not forget Shumpert, the black guy that was one of the Governor's henchman who never spoke, but he wasn't a major character. (But don't worry he's dead too.) Also the Morgan character is more of a guest star who only shows up for more than two minutes when the writers/directors decide to produce classic episodes so I didn't include him either when it comes to this rule.

Now one could attribute the number of deaths of black male characters to the large African-American population in the Atlanta area and the writers trying to be realistic. It could also be something a little more sinister and I'm tempted to alert Al Sharpton about this situation. LOL. So do you think there's anything to my theory?

George L. Cook III, AfricanAmericanReports.com.