On August 10th, Rooftop Films in New York City hosted a special screening of “Seeking Mavis Beacon,” the highly anticipated directorial debut of Brooklyn-based filmmaker Jazmin Jones. Premiering earlier this year at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and distributed by Neon, the film has quickly garnered attention for its powerful exploration of Black women reclaiming their narratives and images.
“Seeking Mavis Beacon” follows Jones and Associate Producer Olivia McKayla Ross, a Caribbean American video artist from Queens, on their quest to uncover the story of Renée L’Esperance, the Haitian model whose likeness became the face of the iconic 1980s software, Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. This documentary shines a light on the erasure of Black women from cultural history, offering a poignant look at the significance of representation.
Through this film, Jones and Ross emphasize the importance of Black women telling their own stories, challenging the narrative, and asserting their rightful place in the cultural landscape.
Article By: Mo Glover | Monique (Mo) Glover is a NY-based fashion designer with two decades of experience designing for emerging womenswear and children’s retail brands. Six years ago, she launched her own label bearing her son’s name, ZYEM NYC. Her Black American heritage has been rooted in NYC since the 1940s in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. Coming of age in NYC, traveling across the globe, and experiencing childhood with her son, Zyem, and his friends, inspires the inter-generational style showcased in her work.
Website: https://moglover.zyem.com
Instagram: @zyem_nyc
