In the episode titled “Never Knew Love Like This Before,” Candy Ferocity, co-mother to the House of Ferocity, is brutally murdered in a motel room while carrying out sex work to provide for her house.
Throughout the episode, actress Angelica Ross gives an award-worthy final performance as Candy, who now reconciles with people in her life as a sort of ethereal being. Everyone from her parents, who rejected her, to Pray Tell, who criticized her the hardest, have an honest talk with the ghost-like Candy.
It was a devastating and powerful episode, and although Pose is a form of fictional storytelling, the episode brought up important themes as it relates to Black trans women in real life. Hit the flip to find out which ones hit the hardest.
1. There’s no such thing as a model victim when it comes to violence against Black trans women
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Candy was a controversial character to say the least. There were various moments throughout the series where she was disruptive to ball categories, mean to her queer and trans siblings, and the woman loved to use random items as a weapon for whoever crossed her path.
But Candy was also unapologetic about her talents and she wasn’t afraid to take risks even if she made a fool of herself in the process. Some of those risks, such as receiving risky silicon injections in Season 1, brought out her own insecurities about body image in a world that already doesn’t acknowledge trans women as women.
All these sides to Candy were important, and just how Black folks rally around imperfect cis Black men when they’re killed by state or communal violence, we should also rally around the deaths of Black trans women. Just this year alone, 13 trans women of color were killed, according to Human Rights Campaign:
Dana Martin, Jazzaline Ware, Ashanti Carmon, Claire Legato, Muhlaysia Booker, Michelle “Tamika” Washington, Paris Cameron, Chynal Lindsey, Chanel Scurlock, Zoe Spears, Johana “Joa” Medina Leon, Layleen Polanco and Brooklyn Lindsey.
All with full lives. All worthy of the action for justice and safety.
2. Sex work is a real job, especially for many Black trans women
There’s currently a burgeoning movement around the country to decriminalize sex work and for good reason. The movement would play a major part in the safety of trans women just like Candy.
According to a 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey Report, 19 percent of trans folks and 47 percent of Black trans women have engaged in sex work. The reasons for such high numbers include employment and housing discrimination, poverty, rejection from family and more.
Sex work between consenting adults is made more riskier when it’s criminalized. Instances of rape, violence or mistreatment can rarely be reported by trans sex workers because of fear of arrest or punishment.
Just imagine all the safety networks that can be put in place if sex work was decriminalized. Maybe people like Candy would still be alive.
3. Colorism still needs to be talked about
Although Candy had a nice sendoff in this week’s episode of Pose, it’s unfortunate that one of the very few dark-skinned characters on the show had to get killed off. Candy will no longer receive the character development people like Blanca and Angel will surely receive in upcoming episodes. In fact, there are many people that will only remember Candy as the aggressive one, despite her sparse moments of softness. Some folks on Twitter seemed to agree.
Hopefully, more dark-skinned characters can be introduced, since this is just as important to the narrative of Black trans women and how they navigate the world. It will especially be refreshing to witness romance and love for such characters, in the same way lighter characters receive love throughout T.V. and movie history.
