Watch: Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins on Race’s Importance in Narratives

“It blew my mind the first time I saw a black character on an HBO show that wasn’t in jail. Diversity is important because the world is diverse.” Suggested Reading Why a N.C. Teen Won’t Face Charges After Allegedly Stabbing His Classmate to Death The Full Timeline of Ebro’s Fiery Exit and Hot 97’s Sudden…

“It blew my mind the first time I saw a black character on an HBO show that wasn’t in jail. Diversity is important because the world is diverse.”

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—Branden Jacobs-Jenkins

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins was recognized on The Root 100 this year for his work changing narratives through the theatrical arts. In 2016, Jacobs-Jenkins was awarded a MacArthur “genius” grant, and his play Gloria was a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for drama.

See more about how the playwright changes race narratives in the above video.

Straight From The Root

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