EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE, HAS A STORY AND A HISTORY. 

Before Ted Talks were a punchline, a young Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie presented her thoughts on the West’s gaze of the Third World. In the now-viral talk, she spoke of the dangers of single-story narratives, arguing that they have a flattening effect, stripping people of their agency and denying communities the humanity of wholesome representation.

This talk has stayed with me for years, punctuating my thoughts on Black identity and expression. I remember my dad refusing to watch Paul Greengrass’ ‘Captain Philips’—A film about a container ship hijacked by Somali pirates—because he didn’t think it’d present Africans “properly”: the single-story narrative has always been, and continues to be a difficult part of the Black experience. 

This season is about adding dimension to Black narratives. It is a collection OF FILMS THAT present rounded stories, HISTORIES, AND CULTURAL IDENTITIES of the Black diaspora. THE FOUR FILMS FEATURED TAKE THEIR TIME TO REMEMBER PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT OFTEN REMAIN HIDDEN FROM VIEW. These films are carefully crafted to gently reflect black communities. They show difficult moments with nuance, and they don’t forget that even in difficulty there is sunshine, and laughter, and love. They also take time to revel in the joys of living, archiving histories that are often buried as footnotes in official documents, and forgotten at the drawers of archives and museums.

I have included links to these films because while I believe in the sheer glory of the theatrical experience, I also believe that these films should be watched by as many people as possible. we make art to archive our histories, it’d be a shame if only a handful of people saw them.

To SUPPLEMENT THE SEASON, I HAVE CURATED a small collection of additional FILMS, MUSIC, AND OTHER cultural RESOURCES on the communities these four films represent. The supplementary materials don’t capture the full breadth of these rich cultures; MY GOAL IS TO WhET YOUR APPETITE.

Next week, when your mind wonders, I hope it’ll land on an artist you found in these pages, and your journey of discovery will continue.

Thank You, for visiting worth A Picture!

Joy Kiuna