‘Purpose’ Explores Black Family Legacy, Masculinity, and Secrets

Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and producer Lena Waithe discussed Jacobs-Jenkins’ Pulitzer-winning play Purpose, which delves into the intergenerational struggles of a Black family in Chicago. Waithe draws parallels to Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, praising Purpose for its updated exploration of masculinity, shame, queerness, and familial obligation. The play centers on the character Solomon, a patriarch grappling with identity and legacy, and introduces powerful female voices—including Aziza, a queer woman who reclaims agency not often represented in past narratives. Jacobs-Jenkins also reflects on his personal losses and how they inform the play’s emotional depth. Both artists emphasize the importance of transparency in families, especially in Black communities, where secrecy and shame often perpetuate trauma. Purpose is praised for its layered portrayal of gender, generational tension, and evolving definitions of family. The conversation calls attention to how Black narratives are expanding in theater and how history shapes our current understandings of identity and belonging.

Advertisements

Source: Variety