QUEEN & SLIM

What Queen & Slim taught me about love, community and blackness.

Can I be your legacy?
You already are.

Queen&Slim

It's been a month since I got to watch the epic-ness that is "Queen & Slim" written and produced by black women, this movie was bound to be a masterpiece. I went in with high expectations and it is safe to say that the movie exceeded my expectations. It's almost like the infamous segments you see on Instagram where it says what I asked for vs what I got, Queen & Slim was more than what I asked for. The visuals, the music, the script, the portrayal, the actors, the costumes... I could go on and on. It had me laughing, crying, thinking, in shock and in awe. It was an emotional rollercoaster but the good kind, the kind that left me feeling like being a part of something after I got off the ride. And on that note: Happy Black History Month beautiful people!

by @lelanief

This is not your typical love story.

I do not know if I can call it that. It is ride or die and realer than real, it was more than Bonnie and Clyde. It showed me that love isn't just there, it develops, it grows, no matter the amount of time. Honesty, truth and communication and of course life's circumstances can create a bond so strong that only death can break and even then I believe it continues throughout eternity.

In terms of hardships and turmoil that's when you find out how big or even how small your community is. How many helping hands can be offered to you without you even being aware of the fact. That every family has their story, stories that are tainted with pain and sacrifices but when it really comes down to it, there are some family members that you can rely on. There's a community that's waiting to support and to help, to encourage and to be there, even when you can't show up for yourself. Sometimes, we find that our community can be made of people that we do not even know. How beautiful is that?

With all the beauty that being black brings, it is undeniable that there is a burden to it that cannot be explained no matter how many words are used, it is something that has to be experienced. There is always the danger of walking into situation you are bound to be profiled in because of the color of your skin. Whether we are aware of that fact or not, it is the truth. But in all the problems we might encounter, there is power in being black. Unapologetically black.

I hope [this film] speaks a dialogue that creates change.

Melina Matsoukas, director

To everyone, yes you, skimming through this or reading it thoroughly, who hasn't watched Queen & Slim. Please do! Take yourself, your friend(s), your partner, your family, whoever. There is something that we can learn from the story, no matter your skin color, where you're from or who you're with.

Love,

Maame.