The Final Call

Chicago Filmmaker Brews ‘Black Coffee’

By Khadeejah Tasheen | Last updated: Mar 9, 2016 - 10:57:54 AM

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DETROIT—Introducing “Black Coffee,” the perfect pick me up film showcased at Saviours’ Day 2016. It’s an energizing romantic comedy starring Darrin Dewitt Henson about a Black man who has truly hit rock bottom after being fired from his father’s homegrown company and losing his girlfriend on the same day.

That is until new opportunities start to brew between Henson and co-star Gabrielle Dennis, who plays his encouraging new love interest. She motivates him not to settle for just any type of job, and to follow his creative passion and start a business for himself.

Mark Muhammad of Chicago’s Mosque No. 2 is the film’s writer, producer and director. He introduced the film Feb. 19 with a brief synopsis and encouraged the crowd to participate in the question and answer session after the viewing.

His motivation for the film was to inspire entrepreneurship. “Our people have many gifts and talents that can be used in a positive manner to encourage and inspire those around us for the betterment of ourselves and our communities,” he said.

Sister Marie X, in attendance from Chicago, said the movie was “beautiful, a good story and great learning experience. The film explained real life through storytelling, and gave many examples of Black people and unity and what we should be doing.”

Attendees Talina and Pharaoh Muhammad enjoyed the film, stating it was a great conversation starter with regard to relationships, Black people being entrepreneurs, and not being afraid to step out and start a business.

Pharaoh Muhammad called the film “a wonderful expression of cinematic beauty, and having a registered member of the Nation of Islam who is expressive and able to use his expressiveness on screen should be applauded.”

Other registered members can see that whatever your dreams are, you can fulfill them without thinking there are some restrictions on how you choose to express that, and Brother Mark Muhammad is a clear indication of that, he said.

Detroit resident Marshalle Montgomery said the film was phenomenal, and the idea of having Black professionals shown on screen in a great way is enjoyable. Ms. Montgomery said she is looking forward to viewing more films from Mark Muhammad and planned to purchase a DVD of the film “Black Coffee.”