‘If Beale Street Could Talk’: The Cast Talk Colorism & The Importance Of Black Love
Barry Jenkins, the Oscar-winning director of Moonlight premiered his third film at the Toronto International Film Festival.
If Beale Street Could Talk is an adaptation of the 70's James Baldwin novel, a story centered around a young black couple in Harlem whose worlds are drastically changed when the fiancé is falsely accused of rape.
Newcomer KiKi Layne at TIFFGetty Images
Starring Stephan James and newcomer KiKi Layne as Alonso "Fonny" Hunt and Clementine "Tish" Rivers respectively, Beale Street is a story that depicts black love in its purest form amid the harsh backdrop of racism and prejudice in America. And it is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. Through the acting, storytelling, and directing, Jenkins ensures that we feel seen and heard. He told xoNecole:
"'Moonlight' is a depiction of the family I grew up in. If 'Beale Street' is the family I wish I had."
While black love comes in many variations, the beauty of the film is heightened by the fact that its leading cast all have dark skin. With colorism impacting many actors in the industry, particularly black women, it's refreshing to see characters with actors' of a darker complexion portrayed in this light. The film feels like home; yet, reminds us that we haven't really seen this type of family on screen. Actress Teyonah Parris, who plays Tish's sister Ernestine in the film, added:
"It's important because you see three different women in such different places in our lives. Different representations of black women. And we all have very different personalities. I think it's really important to be showing a black family unit that's intact and fighting for each other with everything they have. That's what gets them through. Their worlds turn upside down, but they love each other. That's what's really at the heart of all of it."
Teyonah Parris makes an appearance at TIFF.Getty
Regina King and Colman Domingo also star in the film as Tish's parents, Sharon and Joseph Rivers. When asked about the casting of dark skin characters in his films, Jenkins revealed:
"It's not intentional, but it is something that I find myself being conscious of for sure, only because it's been such a long history of one particular type of colorism in our industry. When I write a script. I don't see the character and who they are. I'm having an open mind to the color of that person. Within our spectrum. It shouldn't be dictated one way or the other. The actor comes in. They should get the part."
Interestingly enough, Fonny played by James was originally written as a light skin man. "This might be the one time the source material called for a light skin person, and Stephan just came in and said, 'Nah. This brother is chocolate,'" Jenkins continued.
Stephan James as Fonny'If Beale Street Could Talk'
Many actresses have spoken up lately about colorism and the impact it has on women in the industry. Amandla Stenberg, who stars in The Hate U Give, which also premiered at TIFF has been pretty vocal about the topic. In an interview with Variety, she acknowledged her privilege as a lighter skinned, racially ambiguous woman both in life, as well as art. "Me and Yara and Zendaya are perceived in the same way because we are lighter skinned brown girls," she said. "We fill this interesting space of being accessible to Hollywood and accessible to white people in a way that darker skinned girls are not."
At the premiere, Parris also offered advice for fellow actresses and the role they can play in addressing colorism in Hollywood:
"Being aware and cognizant of what can sometimes be the disparities, and not discrediting anyone's experience and really hearing each other and trying to find a place where it can become a conversation. And realizing that you probably had a lot more advantages than the other person and making sure that's being talked about and dealt with."
Still from 'If Beale Street Could Talk'
While the industry surely has a long way to go before we see the diversity among black people justly depicted, If Beale Street Could Talk is a step in the right direction. It is Jenkins' love letter to black women.
The film premieres November 30, 2018. You can check out the trailer below.
- The 56th New York Film Festival Presents: If Beale Street Could Talk ›
- Toronto Film Review: 'If Beale Street Could Talk' ›
- Barry Jenkins: Jake Gyllenhaal Helped 'If Beale Street Could Talk ... ›
- If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) - Rotten Tomatoes ›
- [WATCH] 'If Beale Street Could Talk' Teaser: Barry Jenkins' Next ... ›
- If Beale Street Could Talk: first trailer for Barry Jenkins' Moonlight ... ›
- If Beale Street Could Talk Has Romance, Despair ›
- If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin ›
- If Beale Street Could Talk Teaser Trailer #1 (2018) | Movieclips ... ›
- Barry Jenkins' 'If Beale Street Could Talk' Trailer [WATCH] – Variety ›
- If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) - IMDb ›
- If Beale Street Could Talk - Wikipedia ›
Jaleesa Lashay is a film reporter and TV host in Los Angeles. She focuses on engaging in conversations that challenge representations within Hollywood. For more, follow her on IG @JaleesaLashay.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Exclusive: Koryn Hawthorne On Her Miraculous Love Story: ‘I Was Never A Girlfriend’
Gospel singer Koryn Hawthorne has used her voice to let the world know about what God can do, and now the Season 8 finalist of NBC’s The Voice is sharing a miraculous act that led to her engagement.
The Praise This actress shared in an interview with xoNecole that prior to becoming engaged to her partner, Hunter Register, she passed over one particular title on her way to becoming a fiancée.
“I was never a girlfriend,” Hawthorn, 26, tells xoNecole.
“We've known each other since we were kids, so we just kind of always had this distant friendship. We would hit each other up on social media, and [I] slide up under things that he was posting,” she says. “We ended up hanging out together, and when we hung out, it was an instant immediate connection from all fronts. I think we just knew from the first day that I don't want to spend a day apart from you.”
Koryn Hawthorne On Her Miraculous Love Story, New Album, & More
She continued, "And yeah, we probably were boyfriend or girlfriend after — am I delusional? Then we were engaged a few months later.”
The Grammy-nominated singer, who became engaged in November of 2023, went on to share what her experience has been preparing to become a wife, exploring the personal growth, challenges, and emotions experienced throughout the process.
“It's a journey, I'm not gonna lie,” she says. “Relationships, in general, are hard, and whenever you think about marriage, is just different from being boyfriend and girlfriend because if you piss me off, I could just go,” she shared. “But marriage is an actual commitment. It's a partnership. It's a ministry.”
Hawthorne, 26, and Register, 27, were childhood friends growing up in Louisiana and sealed their love during a weekend getaway in New Orleans last fall.
For the gospel star, marriage involves more than lovely-dovey aspects, emphasizing how her relationship has allowed her to grow, mature, and learn valuable lessons through love.
“We were supposed to get married in May, but like for us to be mature enough to be like, ‘You know what? No, let's take the necessary time to make sure that we're fully prepared for this commitment such a beautiful thing,” Hawthorne reflected.
“It's a learning curve for sure, but our preparation for marriage would have been the only thing that brought this out of me. It's hard and it's scary at times, but it's God's purpose and His plan for our lives.”
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Dia DipasupilGetty Images