Premiering March 6, “Antebellum” movie trailer is a black person’s nightmare

The highly anticipated new film “Antebellum” may depict many black people’s nightmares on the big screen, but actress Janelle Monae said that the movie will also give moviegoers a “deeper appreciation for black women.” In her first starring role, Monae plays author Veronica Henley who finds herself transported back in time and trapped during the period of pre-Civil War enslavement.

Gerard Bush, one of two writer-directors for the movie, told The Huffington Post that his inspiration for writing the screenplay came through a nightmare he had after the death of his father. Bush said that he believed his ancestors were using the nightmare to focus his attention on something he needed to see. A woman in his nightmare seemed to be screaming for help through multiple dimensions in space and time, and it is chiefly this nightmare that viewers will experience through the movie.

Monae told HuffPost that she hopes one takeaway of the movie will be “understanding why black women and superhero should be one word”. She also added that “if people can walk away with a deeper appreciation for black women, with a deeper respect for black women, with a deeper admiration for black women, then my job is done.”

“Antebellum” hits theaters on April 24.