Documentary 'The Debutantes' shines a light on cotillions as a celebration of Black Girlhood
Director of “The Debutantes” explains why marking coming-of-age is crucial in a world where “Black girls in particular are adultified at a young age.”
Debutante balls have traditionally been associated with a particular kind of coming of age: that of teen girls who are well-to-do and, for the most part, white. A newly revived Black debutante ball in Canton, Ohio, uses the cotillion experience as programming for Black girls, many of whom live below the poverty line.
“The Debutantes,” which premiered this summer at the Tribeca Film Festival, presents three young “debs” — Teylar Bradley, Amelia Boles and Dedra Robbins — as they grapple with what it means for them to come of age and mark that transition.
Director Contessa Gayles wanted the documentary to celebrate Black girlhood before it slips away. For these debutantes in training — who reflect on the pressure of paying bills, familial tensions and discovering themselves in a world where they feel judged — that transition appears to come all too soon.
“I know a lot of times Black girls in particular are adultified at a young age,” Gayles said in an interview. “It kind of doesn’t allow us the opportunity to live fully in our girlhood and then to make that transition, and then have that transition be celebrated.”
The documentary was co-produced by NBC News Studios, which, along with NBC News, is owned by Comcast.
Rating: 5