Indie Web Series: Black Enough
Being accepted is a constant struggle that seems to play on a never-ending loop throughout specific times in our lives. Our focus seems to shift into adapting in every way, shape, or form to survive rather than to be confident in the way that we are. The web series Black Enough depicts this scenario triumphantly in the ever-growing search for resonating stories.
Black Enough shares the story of Amaya, played by Tiffany Gordon, in her journey of acceptance, while attending a primarily white college. In Amaya’s journey, we also meet her group of friends who collectively represent different aspects of acceptance and opinions on what it means to be Black. This serves as the show’s strong suit, which consistently focuses on the exploration of the complexity of each character, along with how their flaws affect or empower them.
The execution of the show is faultless as it pulls you in with its mix of artistry, poetry, and good cinematic moments. This could be displayed in the simple moments where we see Amaya in a dance studio or the moments where we see our main character in front of the mirror making a list of all of the themes represented throughout the show, which represent Amaya’s ingredients for her “Black Girl Magic” potion. The implementation of this goes hand in hand with how the story evolves through each episode and the importance of its themes.
The show shines in bringing to light how self-discovery can be affected when a person is influenced by society, literature, and social media to fit in. It also showcases this through the relationships depicted throughout the season and the faith displayed through our main character’s story. This poses a terrific inquiry in every episode of why being different than what is expected is not considered Black excellence in today’s society.
Another interesting factor is the change of the title at the beginning of each episode. This results in a powerful prelude that sets the tone for every topic depicted in the show. It makes for an interesting component as the title can range from an affirmation to a question in a matter of minutes.
This is balanced well with the performances in the series. The portrayals succeed in striking a chord with its audience because of each cast member’s truthful portrayal. The interactions result in powerful developmens in each, with the audience strapped in for the ride through everybody’s perspective and each individuals outcome.
Highlighted through the ability of transformation, episode 6 titled “Butterfly Wings” serves as the perfect example of what each actor brings to the table. The episode acts as the climax of the season, as we see the turning point in each character and how they choose to either embrace or fight back transformation by succumbing to society. This causes acceptance in some characters such as Amaya and Hadiyah, played Ugochi Nriaka, while resentment in others such as Lina, played by Natalie Pendie.
The series was created by Micah Ariel Watson in her attempt to showcase her experiences in college, as she felt that the community that she loved was not as welcoming as she expected. Through her inspiration with music, the show beautifully depicts this genre through dance as an escape for the audience into Amaya’s mind in various scenes. Poetry also becomes a star player as the season progresses by substituting effectively the commonly known dialogue in this type of media in some episodes. This is executed superbly through Watson’s narraration in episode 9; titled Wash Day, 1955, which commemorates the 400 year anniversary of enslaved Africans being brought to America.
Watson has ticked off various boxes in her career, which have put her in the spotlight as a writer, director, producer and cinematographer. Originally from Kansas, Watson’s work has been heavily focused on film and theater projects, which have won recognitions in the UVA New Works Festival and The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, among others. She has also been recognized for her work in film at the BlackStar Film Festival, Poe Film Festival, and Virgina Film Festival and serves as the writer/director for the BET Her’s series The Waiting Room: The Story of Nadia.
Black Enough premiered on YouTube in September 2019. The series comprises 12 episodes that can last from 8 to 15 minutes depending on the subject presented. It has been well received by audiences with all videos accomplishing no less than 83,000 views and the platform growing with over 136,000 subscribers. The channel also showcases the casting process, along with videos presenting all cast members and their experience in being part of the series.
The evolution of the brand has proven to be victorious in a variety of social media platforms. With over 4,000 followers combined on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, Black Enough has become an educational tool in times where conversations about insecurity and surviving in the Black community are needed the most. The web series also had a slew of triumphant screenings in Washington, Charlottesville, Chicago, Virginia, and Kansas and is currently on the road to commence production on a second season.
Black Enough proves to be a revolutionary series in the digital media platform by opening the door on conversations of acceptance and staying true to yourself. Watson’s impactful creation, along with the focus of expanding the web series into a resourceful forum that resonates with the community has proven to be fruitful in these ever-changing times. This web series has nothing to prove, as it has been deemed more than enough with its magic by becoming a strong voice through the power of storytelling.
