'What'cha trying to say, Hollywood?' Uh-oh: Is female-led 'Ghostbusters' STILL 'problematic'?

In case you missed it, the trailer for the all-female “Ghostbusters” reboot is finally out:

Naturally, there’s plenty of back-and-forth about whether or not the movie will be any good. But some people are focused on one particular plot detail:

Y'all notice that the black actress was written as a subway worker & not a scientist like the others?#Ghostbusters https://t.co/Jx3CgXzLIE

— MisterCharming (@DopeBlackKing) March 3, 2016

I wished that the new #Ghostbusters movie would have used this opportunity to have the black woman be the scientist.

— Edrei "Them Barely Illuminated Stuff" Zahari (@Kamigoroshi) March 3, 2016

Also, why does it have to be the black team member who is the municipal worker and non-scientist? #Ghostbusters

— Adam Lowes (@adlow76) March 3, 2016

White girl: mega scientist. White girl: mega scientist. White girl: mega mechanic. Black girl: ….. sassy?!? #Ghostbusters

— David (@boysies) March 3, 2016

https://twitter.com/RobertMugabae/status/705505791516778496

My ghostbusters hot take from watching the trailer: cool, but the only black character also seems to be the only not scientist? Again?

— jingle bell jump (@JodiesJumpsuit) March 3, 2016

"We're remaking #Ghostbusters but they're all women!"
"Fantastic, and what about a black scientist?"
"Don't be ridiculous."

— Ben Cooper (@bencooper) March 3, 2016

https://twitter.com/anthonytimlin/status/705441517247270913

Hey @paulfeig This is what a black Scientist looks like. They do exist #Ghostbusters #fail #AhHellNaw pic.twitter.com/O8iWJkQ5UI

— sean brett (@BaconKnight) March 3, 2016

Recommended

Here's Coverage of Trump That CNN Doesn't Think You Can See Because They're Not in the Press Pool

Doug P.

Advertisement

Why does the hands-on member of the crew have to be black. Why couldn't the nuclear scientist be black instead, huh? #Ghostbusters

— Reason's Mourner (@ReasonsMourner) March 3, 2016

@paulfeig I had faith in Ghostbusters, but why is the black lady streetwise but not a scientist but the white women are? Who decided that?

— Al Darby (@Wackyal123) March 3, 2016

@Ghostbusters 30 years later the black ghostbuster still not a scientist. #FOH

— The Gingerbread Man (@Toddry) March 3, 2016

I was so excited for the Ghostbusters trailer – ladies! diverse! – & then they made the only black lady a non-scientist and I was just 🙁

— K.A. Doore (@KA_Doore) March 3, 2016

@Ghostbusters @paulfeig Way to keep the token minority formula, and still not let the black person be a scientist. #EpicFail

— meyerlanksy33 (@meyerlansky33) March 3, 2016

I'm all for female Ghostbusters. It's a shame though the black memberof the team is yet again the one that isn't a scientist.

— Harry Neary ? ? (@Grumpyrocker) March 3, 2016

I am disappointed that Ghostbusters is mirroring the originals in having the black character be the non scientist.

— Sarah (@art_ticulate) March 3, 2016

Not sure why Leslie Jones' character couldn't be a scientist.
30 years later and a black scientist is too still much?#ghostbusters

— Jester David (@DnDJester) March 3, 2016

https://twitter.com/QUEcified/status/705403037108535296

https://twitter.com/TheJFKGamer/status/705405195770064897

I love the new Ghostbusters trailer but why is the only character who isn't a scientist is the black one… AGAIN? That's… frustrating.

— TK (@TKhatesyou) March 3, 2016

New "Ghostbusters" promo; so, the black actor had to play the street-smart only non-scientist who believed in the devil. Huh.

— Quinn Cummings (@quinncy) March 3, 2016

https://twitter.com/spitandspite/status/705492862654246916

Could have changed it even more, how about a black scientist? They do exist! Or is that too much to ask for?
#Ghostbusters

— Paul Denis (@Paul_Denis8) March 3, 2016

The new Ghostbusters trailer made me laugh a couple of times, but why can't the black woman be a scientist, too?… https://t.co/tJviHI4P0y

— Tony Peak (@tonypeak78) March 3, 2016

#Ghostbusters reboot tries to be progressive with an all-female cast, but the black character is still the only one who isn't a scientist…

— Nick Steinberg (@Nick_Steinberg) March 3, 2016

It's great that a black person couldn't be a scientist in the 80's and nothing changes in 2016. #Ghostbusters #BlackScientists

— Jesse Washington (@JessWash1) March 3, 2016

So the black woman in new ghostbusters is sassy, street smart, and not a scientist. I'll check it out bc Melissa McCarthy, but stereotypes

— Tobias S. Buckell (@tobiasbuckell) March 3, 2016

Just watched the #GhostBusters trailer. Man it looks like crap! And why can't the black GhostBuster ever be a scientist?

— Jon Mezzera (@JonMezzera) March 3, 2016

https://twitter.com/t_t_t_timmy/status/705487064888909824

The GhostBusters trailer is OK, but did they really need to keep the black character a "street smart" non-scientist surrounded by braniacs?

— JLJ (@jameslucasjones) March 3, 2016

My black daughter who wants to be a scientist ..would've been nice for her to see that on screen @Ghostbusters, but alas, stereotypes huh?

— Deangelo Vickers (@KenJos) March 3, 2016

i feel really uncomfy that in the new ghostbusters the three white women are scientist/scholars and the black woman is an mta worker?? like?

— tracy ? (@tracylrodgers) March 3, 2016

One thing you could conceivably complain about i.e. new Ghostbusters: how the black woman is a subway employee and not a scientist

— ? Sam Duvall ? @ Stone World (@PachiPortrait) March 3, 2016

If you're mad about the Ghostbusters being female, shut up.
If you're mad that the black woman is not also a scientist, continue.

— Shan.✨ (@hi_im_shan) March 3, 2016

Love leslie, hate the Leslie Jones character trope in the new #Ghostbusters . Only one who isn't a scientist is the black woman?

WTF

— Ryan #ReleaseTheSnyderCut (@LazerShow530) March 3, 2016

So…why couldn't the only black person in the #Ghostbusters crew be a scientist as well?!?!?!

— oh trisha ????? (@SoulSistaTrisha) March 3, 2016

https://twitter.com/determinedkid/status/705423070656274432

*wonders to self why the black character can't be a scientist in the new Ghostbusters movie*

— Jack Mandora (@darius_roberti) March 3, 2016

https://twitter.com/crowcorvine/status/705459820095283200

https://twitter.com/Ginge/status/705423223349866497

They can make all the cast female, but it's still too much of leap to have a black female scientist? #Ghostbusters

— Kate Dolan (@caatdolan) March 3, 2016

https://twitter.com/theshrillest/status/705430358829899776

Oh of course the black woman can't be a scientist #ghostbusters racist

— ?William (@lordwillwill23) March 3, 2016

Oh no #Ghostbusters! Women in the lead is great. Would it have killed you to make the Black woman a scientist too? https://t.co/jefwQPvsgM

— Madhusudan Katti ☕️? #RedForKashmir (@leafwarbler) March 3, 2016

https://twitter.com/SandwichMeats/status/705471114009579521

Nobody making Ghostbusters thought having the one black character not be a Scientist but an MTA worker might be problematic?

— BirdLikeBats (@birdlikebats) March 3, 2016

It figures that the black female character in #Ghostbusters is not a smart scientist. Way to go Hollywood.

— Louis Arroyo (@Cybercowboy115) March 3, 2016

I like the trailer for the new Ghostbusters, but why, exactly, is the only non-scientist the black one? What'cha trying to say, Hollywood?

— David Grey (@DrCowboyB) March 3, 2016

"It's 2016. Let's make Ghostbusters with strong, funny women!"
"Can the black one be a scientist?"
"Whoa! Hold on. This is still Hollywood."

— Alan Talaga (@danpotacke) March 3, 2016