#black screenplay

[tani-b-art]

[connectingthediaspora]

From 'Jinn' To 'Just Another Girl On The I.R.T.': Black Girlhood On Film

Too few movies have made black girls their main characters. The release of Nijla Mu'min's Jinn caused critic Monica Castillo to reflect on s

Discussions of diversity in Hollywood may seem trendy, but for audiences who don't normally see actors who look like them, or stories told about their communities, such conversations are vital, and action necessary.

To date, not nearly enough films have featured notably diverse casts and crews, or stories that burn with a topical poignancy, and there's hope for the many projects now in development. But the numbers are slow to change. That's why a rare movie like Jinn -- a coming-of-age story about a black teenager whose mother converts to Islam — garners such anticipation; odds are we won't see another movie like it for a while.

The good news is that Jinn is great.

Its tension-fueled mother-daughter story is refreshingly candid, as it explores what it's like to make a major life change like adopting a new religion – especially to a faith unfairly maligned by the United States.