BBC Documentaries

Being Blacker (2018x49)

: 12, 2018

The film tells the story of well-known reggae record shop owner and music producer, Blacker Dread, his extended family, friends and the wider Brixton community. Made with Dineen’s characteristic intimacy, the film focuses on a tumultuous time in Blacker’s life - the death of his mother and the prospect of his first prison sentence. While the documentary focuses on Blacker’s journey, it also features a wider cast; best friend, former bank robber Naptali is struggling to go straight; sister June is trying to maintain family ties after their mother’s death, and partner Maureen is ensuring their youngest son maintains his exceptional school grades in Jamaica, having been excluded from school in the UK. With the unprecedented access granted by her old friend Blacker, Dineen shines a spotlight on the struggles the characters face on a daily basis and in doing so offers a particular understanding of both the challenges and triumphs of family and community togetherness in Blacker’s world. Being Blacker offers a unique insight into what it is to be black in Britain today.