blk
blk is the collective voice of Detroit's Black non-cis male artists and poets. It speaks healing for the millions of Black non-cis males who need it, for Black cis males to tap into the healing, and for those on the outside to examine the impact of silencing, erasing, and asking for trauma-driven narratives.
Film Blast Detroit, Detroit, Michigan ▪ Audience Selection Award Winner
Thomas Edison Film Festival ▪ Jury’s Choice Award Winner
Button Poetry Video Contest ▪ Editor’s Choice Award
Brussels Independent Film Festival, Brussels, Belgium
Black Alphabet Film Festival, Chicago, Illinois
Cucalorus Film Festival, Wilmington, North Carolina
Fargo Film Festival, Fargo, North Dakota
Independent Film Festival of Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti, Michigan
directed and produced by Na Forest Lim
written and performed by Jassmine Parks
co-producer Jhayla Mosley
director of photography Jeremy Brockman
art director Ilana Portney
editor Nikki Finn
series producer Donald Harrison
assistant director Miles Reuben
sound recordist Ethan M. Cohen
hair and makeup Jessica Turner
art production assistant Santana Robinson
production assistant Leandre White
color, audio mix, and sound design Mike Mulliniks
camera equipment Richie Trimble
cast:
Ja’nya Whitfield
Danna Passmore
Phoenix Eagle
Ericka Lawson
special thanks:
Audra Kubat
funded by Kresge Arts in Detroit
Jassmine Parks is a spoken word poet and slam champion from Detroit. Her work examines the resiliency of the Black feminine experience and intergenerational trauma, and attempts to explore, heal, and disrupt unhealthy cycles such as abuse, mass incarceration, and court ordered parent-child separation. Parks, also a dedicated educator, serves as the lead teaching artist of InsideOut Literary Arts. She believes in the power of language to reflect on past experiences, build agency, and activate healing. Her work has been published with SlamFind and All Def Poetry.