deerstalker
https://blackgirlnerds.com/black-young-and-in-love-the-cast-of-forever-gets-real-with-bgn/
In Netflix’s Forever, Judy Blume’s iconic 1975 novel gets a bold, heartfelt update,— this time centering two Black teens falling in love in modern-day Los Angeles. The reimagining brings a raw, intimate portrayal of young love to the screen, tackling everything from sex and self-discovery to cultural identity and independence.
Black Girl Nerds sat down with stars Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. as well as showrunner Mara Brock Akil to talk about what it means to play characters rarely seen in teen dramas, how ‘Forever’ challenges outdated narratives, and why telling Black coming-of-age stories with tenderness matters more than ever.
Interviewer: Jamie Broadnax
Video Editor: Jamie Broadnax
Forever premieres May 8th on Netflix.
The post Black, Young, and In Love: The Cast of ‘Forever’ Gets Real with BGN appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.
The happiest place on Earth will soon have a seventh location. Disney has announced a new theme park and resort is coming to Abu Dhabi.
The Mouse House is partnering with Miral on an all-new waterfront park and resort on Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates capital. The companies say the new Disney theme park in Abu Dhabi will combine “iconic stories, characters and attractions with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, stunning shorelines, and breathtaking architecture.”
Miral will develop and build the park. Disney’s Imagineers will head up creative design and operational oversight to provide a world-class experience. When it’s complete, Miral will then operate the resort, a partnership reminiscent of the one Disney has with The Oriental Land Company for Tokyo Disneyland.
“As our seventh theme park destination, it will rise from this land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting-edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways,” said Disney CEO Bob Iger in a statement about the upcoming theme park in Abu Dhabi.
The concept art for the project fits with the vision that the two companies are aiming for. The Disney park’s signature glass building looks like it would fit in perfectly on its own in Abu Dhabi’s skyline.
“This groundbreaking resort destination represents a new frontier in theme park development,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences. “Our resort in Abu Dhabi will be the most advanced and interactive destination in our portfolio. The location of our park is incredibly unique – anchored by a beautiful waterfront – which will allow us to tell our stories in completely new ways. This project will reach guests in a whole new part of the world, welcoming more families to experience Disney than ever before. Ultimately, it will be a celebration of what’s possible when creativity and progress come together.”
A waterfront location? All new technology? Imagineers with the freedom to create a whole new park from scratch? And a whole lot of money behind it? Forget being the happiest place on Earth. Disney’s Abu Dhabi location has a chance to be the best park yet.
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A Soulful Journey Through Loss, Hope, and the Beauty of Black Southern Life
The South has always been haunted. By history. By memory. By things left unsaid. And in South of Midnight, that weight is everywhere, thick as the humidity hanging in the air and deep as the roots winding through the old trees. But for once, the South we see is not a caricature. It is not a playground for horror tropes without soul. It is alive, real, and unapologetically Black.
There has been a quiet revival of Southern Gothic stories lately, from games like South of Midnight to films like Sinners. But where many stories borrow the aesthetic without the heart, South of Midnight digs deep. Every part of the game feels crafted with love and authenticity. The clothes. The drawls. The layered, heavy beauty of the environment. Even the smallest details, like the incredible texturing of Black hair, are done with a care that you can feel in your chest. Laurant, better known as Rougarou, has waves so crisp they could slice the humidity. Roux’s hair, natural and proud, looks like someone you grew up next to, someone you knew. It is not just about “representation” for a marketing line. It is about recognition — seeing Blackness not as costume, but as an essential, textured truth woven through every frame. I want to give Compulsion Games their flowers. Every part of South of Midnight feels like a love letter specifically written for the black gamer.
At the center of it all is Hazel. After witnessing her mother pulled away in a violent storm, Hazel’s journey is not just one of survival. It is about finding. Finding her mother. Finding answers. Finding the strength to believe in something bigger than the loss that threatens to swallow her whole. Her relationship with Bunny, fierce, complicated, and layered, is one of the emotional cores of the story. They clash. They protect. They heal in ways only family can, messy and unspoken. Hazel herself is stubborn, quick-witted, and deeply vulnerable in a way Black girl protagonists are rarely allowed to be. She is not chasing destiny. She is chasing something far more personal: the love she refuses to give up on.
Is the combat system clunky and not as smooth as one would hope? Absolutely. There is no sugarcoating that the mechanics feel lighter than they should, and the action sometimes stumbles where the storytelling soars. But somehow, to me, it does not matter. Because when you step into South of Midnight, you are not there just for a fight. You are there to listen. To witness. To walk paths haunted by folklore, hope, and memory. You are there for a story where beauty and sorrow sit hand in hand, like they always have in the South.
In every frame, South of Midnight remembers what so many forget: Black stories are rich, complex, and worth telling with care.
We need more stories like this. Stories that do not flatten Blackness into stereotypes or background noise. Stories that show our complexities, our grief, our strength, and our love without apology. South of Midnight does not just include Blackness as decoration. It breathes it into every line of dialogue, every landscape, every moment of loss and hope.
It reminds us that Black culture is not a monolith. It is layered. It is haunted and joyful and deeply tied to land, memory, and resilience. When developers take the time to honor that, something rare and necessary blooms. Not just a good story, but an honest one.
South of Midnight is not perfect, but it is something far rarer: it is honest. It is textured and aching and filled with love for a culture too often flattened or forgotten. It reminds us that Southern Gothic is not about ghosts in the attic. It is about the living, messy, resilient, grieving, laughing, stubborn, beautiful, holding onto who they are even when the world would rather they be something else.
And that, more than any polished combat system, is a kind of magic we do not see nearly enough.
Cover image via IGN
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Experienced by Kimatni D. Rawlins
During the media preview days of the 2025 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS), luxury brand Genesis emphasized its steadfast dedication to performance, adventure, and state-of-the-art innovation with a set of vehicles that could dictate the company’s immediate future.
VIP guests, automotive and lifestyle media, and principal executives such as José Muñoz, Randy Parker, Luc Donckerwolke, and Olabisi Boyle gathered at Genesis House New York to witness the strategic evolution of the sporty X Gran Equator Concept (XGEC) and the high-tech GMR-001Hypercar, which will spearhead the company’s racing endeavors in 2026. On the other side of the spectrum, the luxuriant, off-roading XGEC represents a unique formula of refinement and ruggedness for those living nomadic lifestyles like mine. The ability to venture deep within Mother Nature with the freedom of the wild is awe-inspiring. That’s right, in just one trailblazing decade, the progressive Korean automaker has made strides in motorsports and overlanding.
“The X Gran Equator Concept is an exercise in harmonizing contrasts—combining elegance with ruggedness and the spirit of exploration with refined comfort,” said Genesis Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke. “It represents the orchestration of true off-road competence and uncompromising luxury, designed to enable the discovery of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes.”
Genesis has unveiled opulent and Magma performance concepts at NYIAS for three consecutive years, including the exclusive GV80 Coupe Concept, the breathtaking Neolun Concept, and the dynamic GV60 Magma Concept. These vehicles add dimension to the portfolio with vigorous lines, enthusiastic attributes, and forward-thinking engineering. The goal is to continue expanding its roster to meet the diverse needs and evolving appetites of each consumer genre and motorsports enthusiast.
Symbolizing the brand’s desire to appease owners with ultimate hospitality, we gathered at the Genesis House in the Meatpacking District, where Genesis unveiled the X Gran Equator Concept, which will be on display until the end of July. With a name borrowed from the mighty Arabian horse, the revolutionary SUV and its dune buggy-like grappling capabilities incorporate an extended hood, signature Two-Line headlamps that cross the faceless grille, a split-opening tailgate, 24” beadlock rims wrapped in knobby Nitto tires, a creatively sleek cabin, and grey rocker panels, bumpers, mirror caps, and integrated roof racks. The interior commingles digital traits with physical switches and grab handles, a 4-circle display cluster inspired by the dials of vintage cameras, swiveling front seats, and sectional storage areas and compartments.
Next was a flashy and energetic introduction of Genesis Magma Racing and its full-scale GMR-001 Hypercar. Built in about a year, the LMDh endurance prototype will begin competing in 2026 with the ultimate challenge of entering the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, its current focus will be the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and IMSA SportsCar Championship. Also introduced were the drivers, race suits, and the Magma Orange livery, representing grit with a powerful presence. The artwork pays tribute to Genesis’ Korean heritage while interspersing motorsport innovation. Final specifics have not been released, but the newly developed twin-turbo V8 engine is the root of the hybrid powertrain and chassis developed with ORECA Motorsport. The Magma program adds a new dimension to Genesis, marking its expansion into high-performance manufacturing. Genesis aims to create a Magma model for each production vehicle in the existing lineup.
“Today marks a significant milestone for Genesis Magma Racing as we unveil the GMR-001 Hypercar, along with our striking livery and race suits,” said Cyril Abiteboul, team principal. “As we gear up for our 2026 WEC and 2027 IMSA campaigns, we are not merely assembling a race team; we are forging a legacy. Each day brings us one step closer to realizing the full potential of Genesis in the world of motorsports.”
After the vehicle presentations, I aligned with the unique and authentic offerings at Genesis House, where you can have a delectable Korean culinary experience, read up on Korean history, enjoy tea time, or view the array of Genesis products on display. Other places and activities to relish while in New York City include a warming stay at the majestic Equinox Hotel, admiring the Vessel and its honeycombed structure, exploring the Shops at Hudson Yards, including Genesis Studio, walking along the elevated High Line park built on a historic rail line, and grabbing lunch at Mercado Little Spain or dinner at the distinctly Korean restaurant Moono in Manhattan’s East Village.
To understand the tenets of the brands you admire—whether automotive, technology, or travel—it is ideal to pay homage to their heritage, strategies, and values by immersing yourself within the DNA of their successful formulas. I was thankful to represent as a son-nim (honored guest) while ingesting the enriching habits, social etiquette, and philosophical design approach during the 2025 Genesis Experience at NYIAS.
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