blk

blk is an award winning film, written and performed by Jassmine Parks and directed by Na Forest Lim. What began as an experience of silencing and erasure of my traumatic experiences became discussion and then poem and then film. blk has won and made appearances in the following film festivals:

  • 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

blk is an ongoing project in which jass magnifies and explores themes within the black community that have been silenced or erased.

jassmine imagines black people alive and thriving in the present and the future. to accomplish this act of resistance jass searches for counterstories in response to racial trauma. jass uses a historical approach through research and the archival process and pairs it with contemporary narratives.

through trauma informed practice jass acknowledges the systemic racism that has plagued the black community. she deems it is necessary to highlight the many ways in which black people have triumphed through resilience.