One of the more insidious ways in which Bonnie Bennett was subjected to racist, antiblack writing was her isolation and lacking of a personal life. And I’m not just talking about romantic or intimate relationships, but also familial. Let’s just go over this for a minute, shall we?

What was Bonnie’s home life? For the longest, Bonnie fans assumed (rightfully) she must be living alone because we never saw her parents. Her mother abandoned her and her father is on business trips 24/7. But we know Bonnie was extremely close with her Grams, so why didn’t they write her as living full-time with her?

Perhaps that way, she could’ve grown up knowing about her witch heritage instead of remaining in the dark unlike literally every other (usually white) witch such as Liv who grew up knowing about who/what they are. And, what about other relatives? Kinfolk? Aunties, cousins, nephews and nieces.

Sure, there was Lucy but she vanished after one episode and told Bonnie she was right where she belonged serving as the Magical Negro for Ungrateful Whites. And, her ancestor Qetsiyah didn’t really acknowledge her. Emily possessed her for a while, then left.

You might just think “well, her family isn’t important to the storyline” but that’s…. Not the case. The Bennett family is CENTRAL and they’re connected to so much that goes on, interwoven with the entire mythos basically. You would think they’d get more screentime but they’re black so they’re nothing more than pawns to move the plot forward.

Much like Bonnie’s magic which has saved the day too many times to count, it comes and it goes depending on what the white characters need/want. Basically, Bonnie’s witch status and powers exist purely to service the white characters and is not for her own enjoyment. When her friends aren’t in danger, something will surely happen that prevents Bonnie accessing her magic in some way.

We never get much insight into how Bonnie feels about being a witch, outside from “I shall use my powers to help my friends™ no matter what, even if it kills me”. She has no life outside of Magical Negro. What are her hobbies? I think she was on the cheerleading team earlier? What are her hopes, dreams and aspirations? What does she wanna do with her life?

Not that she’d have much time to study, given she’s constantly pouring over spell books to search for a mystical fix all for Elena or fainting or getting nosebleeds from overexerting herself yet again. If she wasn’t losing her life for Elena, she’d certainly be slipping through the cracks of the Mystic Falls education system.

But Bonnie does reunite with her mom (because it’s plot relevant for the Whites) but that doesn’t really last, because Abby is killed and forcibly turned by Damon so Esther can no longer have free access to premium Bennett mojo. Then, the now undead Abby leaves town AGAIN and it’s Caroline who confronts her about it. Not Bonnie, her daughter. Caroline.

Then her father returns from God knows where, but he is short-lived. Killed publicly by Silas while Bonnie helplessly (because her magic is not relevant currently so she has no access to it + she’s a ghost) watches on. Then factor in how Bonnie is further isolated by being trapped in a prison world, and you begin to suspect Jewel Placenta doesn’t want Bonnie having any freedom.