Gail Lukasik’s bestselling memoir White Like Her, which tells the story about her mother passing for white during the Jim Crow era, has been optioned for a television series by FGW Productions.
Lukasik, known for her Leigh Girard mystery series, found out about her mother’s past, leading her mother to swear Lukasik to secrecy until after her death. Lukasik kept her promise, waiting until her mother past away to write her novel. In the book, Lukasik details how and why her mother decided to pass for white during such a dangerous time. She also writes about the “lost” maternal relatives she discovered after researching her mother’s history.
White Like Her will be produced by Stephanie Frederic and Susan Banks with TigerEye Films’ Tricia Woodgett, according to Deadline. Datari Turner of Datari Turner Productions will also be a part of the production team.
There are quite a few narratives about passing that are coming down the pike. The most recent addition is TNT limited series I am The Night, which details the life of Fauna Hodel, a white girl who was raised by a Black family and believed herself to be Black until she started investigating her lineage. This investigation leads her to a trail of crime instigated by infamous Hollywood gynecologist, Dr. George Hodel. India Eisley and Chris Pine star, and the first two episodes will be directed by Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins.
There’s also the film adaptation of Nella Larsen’s 1929 book, Passing, which tells the story of two friends, one of whom is passing as white in order to live what she assumes is a better life. Ruth Negga and Tessa Thompson are attached to star and actress Rebecca Hall will direct.
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