Disney+ has recently created a plethora of new shows that celebrate and highlight the Black community in a positively different light. Among those, is The Crossover, based upon a book written by the Newbery Medal-winning author, Kwame Alexander. Alexander is a novelist, poet, producer, and father of two that has made it his mission to create change throughout the world with this new series.
“I got all the feels and all the feelings,” Alexander tells Parents. “I created these characters and this story 15 years ago. It feels like when you have a kid. You raise your kid, you nurture it, and you give it everything it needs. Then the kid goes off to college and there’s a transition period where you’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, my kid’s gone. How am I going to handle this now?’ And at the same time, you’ve prepared them to go out into the world and make a difference and live their life and have an impact on the world,” Alexander said of his project in a recent interview with Parents.com.
Alexander continued, “I hope that’s what happens with this show—that it goes out into the world and does everything I prepared it to do.”
If you aren’t familiar with this new Disney hit, Alexander’s story chronicles the journey of twin brothers, JB (Jayln Hall) and Jordan Bell (Amir O’Neil). As sons of a former pro basketball player, we watch the pair navigate growing up to find their places in not only the world, but on the basketball court. Throughout The Crossover, there is a theme of “finding your voice,” which Alexander tells the popular parenting magazine that that is a part of his mission as a writer to help help people understand that when they do find their own voice, they can unquestionably create the change that we all need to see.
“When you find your voice, you begin to better understand who you are and your place in the world,” he says. “My job is to make the world a better place as a writer. You want people to change the way they act, you got to change the way they think. You want to change the way they think, you got to change the way they feel. What better way to get people to change the way they feel than through a poem?”
To read Alexander’s interview in its entirety, click here. In addition to writing the novel/script for the new series, Alexander is also serving as both writer and executive producer of the project.
The Crossover is now streaming on Disney+.
Photo Credit(s)/Featured Image: Kwame Alexander Instagram
