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The Social Justice Movement That Inspired A Riveting Storyline
How a Black Lives Matter co-founder was tapped to bring reality and authenticity to a key TV role
When it comes to telling authentic stories on television through the lens of Black women, Freeform’s Good Trouble is taking it to a whole new level with Patrisse Cullors and Zuri Adele. The series is a spin-off of the popular drama The Fosters, which follows Mariana and Callie Adams Foster to Los Angeles. There they encounter the harsh realities of adulthood, take a stand for social justice issues, and live on their own for the first time in a place called the Coterie with a myriad of different people, including activist Malika Williams.
The activist is portrayed by Adele but was inspired by Cullors and her work with the Black Lives Matter movement. Together, the two have set out with the same goal in mind: to make Malika a multidimensional and vulnerable character in which various types of Black women can see themselves.
“I can tell stories in a way that we haven’t seen on television. I think it’s in alignment with my goals as an artist, someone who’s a creative, and being able to use my creativity to have this…
