Insecure Proves That Natasha Rothwell’s Kelli Is Hella Goals with “Hella LA”

Still, “Hella LA” is a tough episode to watch, especially after having just seen Girls Trip this weekend. There’s a tameness to the main characters that I just didn’t have a taste for this weekend, and it was highlighted not only by my experience watching Tiffany Haddish in the role of a lifetime, but also by the episode itself and the sex scene between Lawrence and the two white girls (I realize one was Asian, but she was, uh, culturally white in this episode). Now, I’m not in the business of defending the image of white girls on TV, but these characters were complete tropes that we’ve all seen before, and I have to assume their scenes were written to coincide (or conflict) with Lawrence’s DWB moment. The scene with the police officers actually felt completely authentic, as we saw Lawrence going through the motions of fear and compliance, after being pulled over for a minor traffic offense. The scene isn’t directly about police brutality or so-called bad police (sidenote: they’re all bad), but instead is about how a completely normal and appropriate interaction between an officer and a citizen is still and always terrifying for a black person. Lawrence might have been less surprised had the interaction ended in a ticket, his arrest, or even his death. He is shocked to have been treated like a human, and that is a powerful thing to relay in such a brief scene. That Lawrence goes on to sleep with a white woman who verbally celebrates his “big black cock” during the act could be understood as proof of the kind of whiteness and racism we find acceptable. Police brutality = bad. Two white girls who want to sleep with you because you’re black (and because of that great experience they had with LeMarcus) = totally fine. But isn’t there violence in both?

And yet, I found myself begrudgingly championing the two women in the moment when they promptly ended the night, after Lawrence failed to live up to their expectations. It’s true that their expectations were based on stereotypes they’d formed over a number of sexual experiences with black men, but without meaning to, perhaps, Insecure sent the message that there’s a sexual freedom that comes more easily to white women. They cared little for Lawrence, his needing to catch his breath or his promise of future orgasms for all. “Why did you come?” one sexually satisfied friend asked, in defense of the friend who hadn’t come yet. In truth, more women should be asking this question (on TV and in real life); it’s such a great line, and it’s disappointing that it had to come from two racist Beckys on Insecure. I’m sure it will be argued that I’m either reading too much into this, or misreading it entirely (after all, the white women are clearly presented as ridiculous jokes), but when I think about the ease with which these women went after what they wanted, and then left it behind when it proved to be less than they hoped for, I can’t help but also think about the messages we send and receive concerning white female sexuality and black female sexuality. (Where’s that Hortense Spillers quote about black women being the “beached whales” of the sexual universe when you need it?) It’s for this reason that I’m especially thankful for Kelli’s moment of glory.

Do not underestimate the power of a black woman getting fingered under a diner table on her diet cheat day while her friends sit through lame interactions with other guys. It’s a moment that reminds us that being single is hella fun, if only you’d embrace it. Kelli’s experience even sends Issa over to Daniel’s table, and I pray it inspires Molly to break a few of her rules and try to live a little. Some of you right in front of my salad types may have found yourselves concerned with the hygienic aspects of the whole thing, but this final scene gives me hope that Insecure will finally allow more of its characters to embrace all that can be freeing and glorious about single life with your girls.