Crooklyn

This film provides a candid, transparent, and culturally-rich perspective of black girlhood in a way that's not glamorized, stereotypical, or caricatured. With a screenplay written by a trio of black writers who happen to be family, and a semi-autobiographical story written by Joie Lee, the storyline offers a genuine glimpse into the everyday life of an African American family living in Brooklyn in the 1970s. Crooklyn provides an endearing and raw glimpse of many of the cultural norms and societal undercurrents present in the lives of a family during a very critical time in America's history. The Carmichaels are a vibrant, intelligent, and at times uncouth household that showcase the unspoken burdens of the black female matriarch in ways that are real, relatable, and culturally-sensitive without erasing the authenticity of those experiences.

The layered dynamics of the family are clearly delineated. Carolyn as an overworked, underpaid teacher and mom clearly depicts the resilience and oftentimes burden that black women carry within the family unit. Troy brings a vivaciousness and wisdom beyond her years to the narrative. Her stepping into the legacy of the forthcoming matriarch of the family is evident in the inner strength and stoic nature that she exudes after the loss of a parent. Though a child, she doesn't shrink from the responsibility and courage that it takes to be the woman of the house. As she steps into her mother's legacy with great strength and poise even in her youth, there's great symbolism that echoes and reflects the experiences of so many young girls and women in African American communities.