Jurnee Smollett Opens Up About the Challenge of Raising Black Sons in America at the ‘We Grown Now’ Premiere

In the recent film, Jurnee Smollett plays a loving mother who lives in the Cabrini Green housing project in Chicago in the Nineties.

Smollett’s character, Dolores, raises her son Malik and daughter as their environment becomes more troubled, tormented by police brutality and gang violence. Dolores wants to take care of Malik’s innocence, but she also must protect him and teach him easy methods to be a young black boy in America. Smollett fully understands the challenge as the mother of Hunter’s 7-year-old son.

“I could relate to this struggle of raising a black son,” the actress tells TheGrio in an exclusive interview. “I would like you to have your freedom. I would like you to have your joy and I would like to guard that energy. But how can I make it easier to channel this energy? How not to interrupt your spirit? How are you able to not make yourself so obedient that you simply aren’t any longer a frontrunner?

“But how can I also tell you that you are a black boy in America. So I’m really still struggling with how do I calibrate this for my son? I want him to be fully himself. I want him to be brave and courageous. I want him to go out into the world, have no limits and not be afraid to fly. But also, you know, this conversation you have to have (about racism in this country).”

, written and directed by Minhal Baig, is a strong film that beautifully portrays this dichotomy through the eyes of two young boys. Malik (Blake Cameron James) and his hot-headed neighbor Eric (Gian Knight Ramirez) are best friends. Eric’s father, Jason, played by Lil Rel Howery, can also be tasked with protecting his son and staying out of trouble as social issues loom in the background. Jason is strict, but his love is just as strong.

Howery, a Chicago native, says the film reminded him of his own upbringing in the Windy City.

“I’m from Chicago, I was born and raised there, I remember that period and everything that happened,” Howery tells theGrio. “When Minhal and I had our first conversation, we were like, ‘Oh, you actually get it.’ Because sometimes I get slightly nervous when people attempt to tell Chicago stories, to be honest with you. This was just beautifully written and beautifully executed.

“I like the perspective of these two young men. We don’t see this sort of friendship amongst black boys. It was so innocent. Most of the guys I do know who watch this movie cry at the end since you forget how innocent these friendships were back then – especially since they were young black men.”

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Smollett grew up in Los Angeles, serving as a baby actor in movies comparable to , but he also remembers the tumultuous ’90s. He brought some of his childhood experiences during the 1992 Los Angeles riots to his character. The fear and uncertainty that accompanied her at that point helped her higher understand Malik’s feelings.

“I remember living in Los Angeles as a kid when the riots happened after Rodney King’s death,” Smollett says. “I remember my mom and dad sitting my oldest brother, Jojo (Smollett), because he had just gotten his driver’s license. I remember them telling him, “If you ever get pulled over, this is what you have to do.” You know, that’s the conversation. I remember perfectly. I think it was about 5, 6, 7 years old – I was young. But I will always remember it.”

Howery adds that it is a “crazy psychological game” that black parents “have to play” in terms of raising children in the US; but it surely shows this struggle with empathy and hope.

“I love the fact that this movie does it in a beautiful way,” Howery says. “It’s so beautiful. It helps me return to innocence.”

can now be seen in chosen cinemas.