Parents' Guide to

Black Boy Joy

By Diondra Brown, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Gripping short drama, family of men deal with life and loss.

TV Max Drama 2019
Black Boy Joy Poster Image

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What's the Story?

BLACK BOY JOY gives audiences a brief glimpse into the life of grandfather, Otis, father, Miles, and son, Selim as they grieve the loss of a Miles' wife - Selim's mother. Struggling with comprehending her death, in part due to being on the autism spectrum, Selim turn to his father and grandfather for comfort and solace during this dark and confusing time. Challenged by differences in their perspectives and a generational gap, Otis and Miles struggle with approaches to parenting Selim and accepting his diagnosis. The varying needs, emotions, and attitudes of the three generation of men culminate into a vulnerable discussion on the day of the funeral.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

The racially diverse cast and crew achieved their goal in disrupting stereotypes about Black fathers and sons in this moving story. Black Boy Joy provides an engaging narrative that opens the floor for discussion about pressing topics, such as the perspective of children with autism, intergenerational parenting, and the nuances of grief. The short is multidimensional and leaves viewers wanting to know more about the characters. Award-winning, and emotion-packed, Black Boy Joy is sure to capture your heart.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how in Black Boy Joy the main characters are grieving the loss of their loved one. Have you ever lost someone you love? Can you talk to a family member about how losing them felt? If you've never lost a loved one, what feelings do you think the characters have?

  • Selim's father, Miles, demonstrates empathy, courage, patience and compassion. Why are these important character strengths?

  • Selim has autism. Do you, or anyone you know have autism or another learning disorder? Why do you think different people in his family respond to his diagnosis differently?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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