Despite continuous national attacks against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), Black History Month is beaming with historic ‘firsts’ in entertainment culture, and the upcoming debut of the first predominantly Black daytime soap opera, “Beyond the Gates,” is next on the list.
As the CBS series prepares for its Feb. 24 debut, an exclusive screening and fireside chat in Northwest D.C. was held Thursday at The Gathering Spot. There, DMV residents, “Beyond the Gates” cast members and alumni of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) gathered for a sneak peek into the lavishness of Fairmont Crest, the exclusively gated fictional neighborhood in Prince George’s County, where the show is set.
“I feel like in today’s time, you see a lot of projects on TV…[that] shows people of color in a negative light. If people have the power to put these stories on screen for people of color, why not make it successful? Why not show that we can be Black kings and queens, we can be rich and wealthy, because we can,” said Jibre Hordges, who stars as Jacob Hawthorne, on Feb. 13.
While guests enjoyed trivia and hors d’oeuvres, Hordges and fellow castmate Colby Muhammad dished character bios, onset relationships, and touted the importance of spearheading diversity at such a vulnerable time for Black Americans.
“With all of this going on, it’s infuriating and it’s disheartening,” Muhammad said, “but then you have shows like this and other Black shows to remind you that, we’re not going anywhere, we’re not going away.”
Highlighting Black Love, Black History, Black Excellence
With a mission to reshape the daytime television landscape, “Beyond the Gates” is on a journey to champion Black representation in a multitude of ways – from celebrating Black love and wealth to touting the influence of historically Black institutions.
The hourlong soap opera follows the lives of the Black, wealthy Dupree family as they navigate familial bouts, betrayal and love, featuring a powerful cast of Tamara Tunie, Clifton Davis, Karla Cheatham Mosley, and most recently announced soap opera veterans, Jon Linstrom (General Hospital) and Cady McClain (Days of our Lives).
Fresh off the national tour of the Broadway hit “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding,” Muhammad’s network debut as Katherine “Kat” Richardson serves as an opportunity to empower future generations of Black women leaders. Hordges’s character tackles the prompt of amplifying positive Black relationships for young audiences.
“I don’t want to give away too much, but…you see a lot of failed marriages, especially within [communities of color]. But Jacob brings a breath of fresh air,” Hordges told The Informer. “To show that, to portray that real Black love on a national and global TV screen, it’s huge.”
The fiery pilot was simply rich in Black nuances and colloquialism – from perfectly timed comedic reactions to moments of sisterhood and cultural references.
Aside from highlighting local Black affluence, “Beyond the Gates” celebrates a variety of aspects of Black culture, such as HBCUs and the historically Black sororities and fraternities of the Divine Nine, many of whom were invited to the screening on Feb. 13.
Muhammad, who holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater from Howard University, told The Informer that much of the characters’ backgrounds stem from HBCU and Greek affiliation.
“The woman who plays my mom on the show, she has a lot of elephants in her office, so we can’t say that she’s a Delta, but, you know,” she admitted with a cheeky smile.
Further, “Beyond the Gates,” an inaugural venture of CBS and the NAACP, which will also stream on Paramount+, is not only the premiere of a predominantly Black ensemble. It is also the first daytime soap opera to hit the airwaves in the 21st century, offering a refreshing taste of romance, scandal, and dramatic head turns for audiences.
Washingtonian Tamalyn Smith, who attended Thursday’s event on behalf of her Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA) chapter, echoed the significance of uplifting diverse on-screen representation, especially when the success of future developments could depend on it.
“I think this is a good time for [Beyond the Gates],” Smith, a member of the District’s Xi Omega Chapter of AKA, told The Informer. “It’s important for us to support our people. Very rarely do we get on daytime [television] with a drama such as this.”
With plans to air weekdays at 2 p.m., “Beyond the Gates” is sure to shake up the entertainment landscape with a fresh lens that speaks volumes to the resilience and realities of Black culture.
“You can get rid of DEI programs, but at the end of the day, we’re going to still rise to the top. And I hope that this show will remind people that we’re gonna still rise to the top,” Muhammad said.