Read the full article by Seth Sandronsky at The Sacramento Observer
A cinema project from Justice2Jobs aims to spur community conversation about the “adultification bias” of Black girls; the harmful expectations and stereotypes that distort and shorten their childhoods. To this end, the new documentary film “Essence of Black Girlhood” premiered at The Guild Theater in Oak Park on Sept. 1 to act as a jumping off point for further discussion.
One stereotype the film points out is that Black girls should have an adult-like understanding of themselves and others, according to Sade Ajayi, who along with Shanalle Patterson — both of Sacramento — co-directs the Justice2Jobs Coalition’s Essence of Black Girlhood project.
Patterson and Ajayi facilitate the “story circles” that “Essence of Black Girlhood” features centrally. The activist duo prompt participants with writing topics as a way for them to talk about their histories. The participants share their memories — as Black children and adults — of Sacramento neighborhoods Del Paso Heights, Oak Park and Meadowview, where household incomes are far below those in more affluent areas of the capital city such as Land Park.