Letter from the Editor

I’m writing this in the afterglow of this year’s BlackStar Film Festival. I’ve been to many film festivals, but there is nothing like watching a film at BlackStar. The films quench and illuminate, and the audience gives so much back—in their questions and anticipation, sitting in the dark and entering another person’s vision of the world. Cinema is a generous art form, and it’s never more generous than at BlackStar. 

I hope this issue of Seen, like our flagship festival, feels welcoming and rigorous. From Shannon Baker Davis’s conversation with her mentor, editor extraordinaire Terilyn Shropshire, to Kelli Weston’s lyrical review of Rungano Nyoni’s sophomore feature, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, to Kaitlyn Greenidge’s poignant essay on Jasmine Guy’s Whitley on the ’90s television series, A Different World, we tackled the timely and the timeless. 

This is my first issue as the editor in chief, and I had some big shoes to fill. Dessane Lopez Cassel, in addition to being a beautiful writer, set the bar high for what readers have come to expect from Seen and amassed a group of writers and editors who are deeply curious about film and at the top of their craft. 

I am inspired by our guest editor, Ja’Tovia Gary. From our first meeting, Ja’Tovia felt like her work. Sharp, unexpected, and incisive. What I believe we’ve captured in this issue is the depth of her curiosity, her intellect, and her appreciation for beauty in all forms, from photography to art, television, and cinema. 

A lot of love to our thoughtful editors Camille Acker, Kavita Rajanna, Dr. Yasmine Espert, and Shauna Swartz, and to our art director, the incomparable Raquel Hazell. Big thanks to the writers, artists, and designers who brought this issue to life, especially Maori Karmael Holmes, Imran Siddiquee, Mari Ingram, Leo Brooks, and Autumn Faith Valdez.