(Photo Credit: Luke Rattray)
Yoruba Richen is the delightful, thought-provoking director, producer and writer behind the critically acclaimed documentary, ‘The New Black.’ Her 75-minute intimate portrait offers cinematic seats around the dinner table, in church pews, on the front stoop and at the voting polls to explore same-sex marriages and homophobia in the African American community.
Richen’s riveting work dates back to 2008 when President Obama was elected. Almost simultaneously, Proposition 8 revoked gay marriage in California. A curious Richen immediately noticed that black voters were being blamed for the ban on marriage equality being passed. She wondered why a marginalized black LGBT community was continuously ostracized from the conversation.
“These two groups were being pitted against each other. As a documentary filmmaker, I started to ask these questions about why this was happening. I had a sense this issue had bubbled up to the top of the national political agenda. I thought it would make a very interesting film to see how these relationships were trying to be repaired,” says Richen via phone interview.
Too often in black culture, sexuality and homosexuality are topics swept under the rug. Richen, even with her busy schedule mounting, enjoys speaking to particularly black media outlets about The New Black and how the film interrogates sensitive subject matter. She hopes her film is a step in the right direction to afford the black LGBT community more visibility in popular culture and media.
“I want us to have conversations that are hard to have. I hope this film will propel us as a community to continue that conversation. It’s happening more and more but to have it embedded in who we see and understand as part of our community,” says Richen. Even without a background in film school or a journalism program, a diligent Richen, a Brown University political science and theater alumnae , knows how to create brow raising commentaries on race and class.
The former ABC News associate producer in the investigative unit and Democracy Now! producer has previously produced documentaries exploring how welfare reform affects women of color in New York City and blacks recovering land over several years in post-apartheid South Africa. When Richen was growing up in Harlem, she recalls commuting for nine years to just to attend school.
Those trips laid the foundation for her activism work. She became conscious of race and class divides on a local level. “You can’t help but to see what kind of privilege and access certain people have or didn’t get. It made me aware of the inequality,” says Richen. The self-proclaimed news junkie’s love for making documentaries concerning race originated from freelancing with various production companies.
Richen’s orientation with production would provide a gateway for her stint at ABC News. “It was very good training and learning the craft of having to pitch stories, write and dig deeper. I love that part of it,” says Richen. The exceptional storyteller polished her creativity when she became a Sundance Producer’s Fellow, a Guggenheim Fellow and Fulbright Award recipient. Chuckling as she elaborates, Richen remembers the film clinics teaching her a multi-layered process involving plot development, fundraising, distribution, music licensing and building partnerships with organizations or special interest groups.
Making films, Richen believes, is both frustrating and exciting. “There are a lot of different aspects to it. It’s a multi-faceted job. You come in with a certain idea [which is great], but that idea never ends up what you think it is. It’s most useful to be open to what experienced people are telling you. Know how you want your film to live in the world,” she says.
Now, a well-equipped Richen, whose films have received funding courtesy of the Ford Foundation, ITVS and Sundance Documentary Fund, has the joy of guiding and mentoring young filmmakers. She teaches documentary production and a graduate seminar on international reporting at CUNY School of Journalism. She uses her films as teaching tools in her courses. As a result, she finds common ground with the students whenever she facilitates discussions.
“I learn from the students. I’m inspired by them. I teach and make films at the same time. I understand how hard it is to figure out what your story is. It allows the students to relate to me more. I’m in the mix creatively and business wise, too,” says Richen.
So far, Richen’s filmmaking vitae and keen eyes are paying off. ‘The New Black’ has garnered “Best Documentary” at Urbanworld Film Festival and PhiladelphiaQ Festival, an “Audience Award” from AFI Docs Film Festival, a Tribeca All-Access “Creative Promise Award for Documentary” and most recently a NAACP Image Award nomination for “Outstanding Documentary.” ‘The New Black’ is slated for theatrical release at the Film Forum in New York from Feb. 12-18 followed by Chicago at the end of February. The film will also air on PBS’ Independent Lens series this Jun. 16.
Does Richen believe being gay is the new black? Not at all. However, she does point out why she chose the title and its meaning. “I chose The New Black for its provocative nature. It would interest people. I don’t think being gay is The New Black. The New Black is the young activists that are featured in the film that are pushing this conversation within our community,” says Richen.
This article was written by Christopher A. Daniel, pop cultural critic and music editor for The Burton Wire. He is also a contributing writer for Urban Lux Magazine and Blues & Soul Magazine. Follow Christopher @Journalistorian on Twitter.
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