The Woman King

A movie about Black women warriors starring Viola Davis? We're HERE FOR IT so let's talk about it! This is the first episode to feature the entire Our Voices Project team - Jackie McGriff, Deborah Alvarez, Courtney Shouse, and Annalisa Rogers!

The Woman King tells the story of the Agojie, the all-woman warrior unit that protected the West African kingdom of Dahomey during the 17th to 19th centuries. Set in 1823, The Woman King follows a general who trains the next generation of warriors to fight their enemies. The film stars Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, and John Boyega and is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood.

In our discussion, we talk about what we loved about the film, the real history of the Agojie and the Kingdom of Dahomey and reflecting on the importance of accurate representation in movies.

Special thanks to Chris Lindstrom of the Food About Town and In Good Spirits podcasts for letting use his studio to record this episode - thank you Chris!

The Representation in Cinema podcast is hosted by Our Voices Project. Our goal is to dismantle destructive stereotypes of minority groups perpetuated in the media by producing films centered on the multifaceted experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people. Our Voices Project is also a committed community partner, providing opportunities to affirm racial and cultural identities, empowering students as agents of social change, and contributing to an individual’s learning through cultivation of critical thinking. You can learn more about Our Voices Project at www.ourvoicesproject.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

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Song: "You are so money"

Written by: Matthew Wigton

Performed by: Falls