Building Together: Black Joy, Representation, and Female Friendship

On February 10, Marlborough welcomed legendary writer, producer, and showrunner Mara Brock Akil alongside Emmy-nominated actress and Marlborough parent Karen Pittman for a dynamic conversation about personal history, motherhood, and friendship fueling meaningful art.  In honor of Black History Month, African American Cultural Exchange (AACE)—Marlborough’s affinity group for Black and African American students—hosted the All-School Meeting (ASM) where Ms. Brock Akil and Ms. Pittman shared insights from their careers and personal journeys.

Introducing Ms. Pittman, her daughter Lena W. ’27 highlighted her mom’s body of work, describing a career “redefining what it means to be a leading lady in Hollywood,” by bringing “depth to complex women,” most recently in her role in Netflix’s Forever, where she portrays “a fierce, nuanced perspective on Black motherhood.” 

Welcoming Ms. Brock Akil, who is the showrunner and executive producer of Forever and a storyteller with 25 years working in television, Kelsey Y. ’29 framed her impact for students: “With over 400 episodes of television to her name, she isn't just a creator; she is an architect of representation who has opened doors for an entire generation of Black storytellers.”

Moderated thoughtfully by AACE members Maniya A.B. ’26, Lael S.J. ’27, and Malia R. ’28, Ms. Pittman and Ms. Brock Akil grounded their discussion in their longtime friendship and the joys of working together in this chapter of their lives and careers.

Maniya asked about the decision to work on Forever in this particular moment: “Why was now the right time to tell this story, and what was it about the characters of Keisha and Justin—specifically as Black students at Predominantly White Institutions in Los Angeles—that felt important for you to explore?”

Ms. Brock Akil described the depictions that Black characters have historically been limited to in television and film, and her desire to tell a different story. "I wanted to make space for the world to see these Black children, because if you see them and care about them, then you would realize you have a responsibility to them as human beings,” she shared. “The world has a responsibility to be curious about them, think about them, and consider them. Think about their beauty, think about their strengths, think about their intelligence...think about them.”

Of Ms. Pittman’s role of Dawn Edwards, Justin’s mother in the show, Lael asked, “Do you have any personal connections to this storyline, and why do you feel it’s vital for students today to see that representation and pluralism on screen?”

Ms. Pittman responded by sharing her approach to her work as an actor, “My goal is to reflect humanity. To reflect back who [Black mothers] are right now was very important to me. My thread into this story was my experience with motherhood and my desire to show what motherhood looks like today." Together, both women emphasized the importance of Black representation on screen that provides an expansive view into the variety of the Black experience, rather than limiting it to stereotypes. As storytellers, they take this responsibility seriously. 

Ms. Brock Akil and Ms. Pittman’s friendship itself offered students a living example of what is possible when you build alongside those who share your vision. Reflecting on her career and the women she has crossed paths with along the way, Ms. Pittman shared, “I’m thinking of all those women who pull you up as they climb. They bring you with them and you pull the others too as you come up.” She added, pointedly, “Those people you bond with at Marlborough, they are going to last a lifetime. They are going to take you all the way through.” 

The conversation also explored how Black Women navigate creative spaces where they are often expected to fit into narrow boxes. Malia asked, “In a space where Black women can often be put in a single box, how do you use your intersectionality as a super power rather than a barrier for creative decisions?”

Speaking about intersectionality in the creative field and being a multi-hyphenate storyteller, Ms. Brock Akil noted that wearing many hats is the norm in today’s world. She also highlighted the privilege Marlborough students have to explore and be curious while in school. “I would encourage you to practice intersectionality now,” she urged. “Whatever you want to be, you can put it together from your own imagination. What's so beautiful about looking at the diversity in this audience is that your greatest resource is each other. The mastery begins now about all the things that you're curious about. Lean into that curiosity now.”

Ms. Pittman added, “Intersectionality is really in the heart of the person who’s sitting next to you. You can start building that right now.”

The throughline of their wisdom was the transformative power of female friendship. Ms. Pittman and Ms. Brock Akil’s friendship and collaboration offered students a vision of what becomes possible when you master your craft, embrace your full identity and that of your peers, and build alongside others. “I want to live a life where pleasure and work become one continuum,” Ms. Brock Akil reflected. “And to work with my friend has been a fulfillment of that. We build together, we play together, and I think that’s what can make a long life.”

For all in attendance, the message was clear: the relationships you build now, the work you master, and the intersections you embrace today will shape the lives you create tomorrow.