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Set against the backdrop of Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn, NY,  Max hosted an immersive screening of Matthew Cherry’s new animated series Young Love this past Wednesday. The Chicago-based show follows an African American couple voiced by Issa Rae and Kid Cudi as Stephen & Angela, along with their daughter Zuri, played by Brooke Monroe Conaway. The animated series was greenlit by  Max in 2020 and launched 9/21 for streaming on Max.

The new series for Max is created by Cherry, who will showrun with long-time animation creative Carl Jones (The Boondocks, Black Dynamite). The series will be executive produced by Blue Key Entertainment’s Monica A. Young (producer of Hair Love) along with Lion Forge Animation’s David Steward II and Carl Reed.

For the family-friendly event Max hosted immersive activations in partnership with Scene In Black & The Lay Out based on the 12-part TV show including:

• Angela’s Salon: Hair Braiding presented by Yeluchi by Un-Ruly
• Stephen’s Studio: Beats Making presented by BeatClub & Serato
• Zuri’s Reading Corner: Kids Activities presented by Penguin Random House
• Photo Moment: Family House

DJ BMAJR kept the mood alive and upbeat as the official DJ of the evening playing throwbacks and new singles for their set.

The event kicked off promptly at 6 PM, drawing a crowd of eager parents and their little ones, all grabbing snacks and preparing for the evening’s screening. However, the show didn’t start until after sunset, around 7 PM, heightening the anticipation among the attendees. While some episodes had already been released on Max the week before, the opportunity to gather and celebrate a Black TV show in the heart of Brooklyn felt like a powerful statement.

Notably, the local partners that Max collaborated with were predominantly Black vendors or organizations, further emphasizing the event’s intentional commitment to diversity. This choice was in line with the show’s creator and showrunner, Matthew Cherry, who is a Black filmmaker and first-time father. It was an inspiring moment, given the historical significance of Black hair and how it has defined the Black community, to see a light, family-friendly show portraying everyday struggles such as dealing with family expectations, life after a setback, and parenthood, especially to a bright young Black girl. These are challenges that the young couple must contend with, and the TV show skillfully highlights their journey.

Amidst these pressures, the TV show shines a light on the joy and love that the family members have for each other and those around them. Angela’s return to her life after her cancer remission includes relearning her trade as a hairstylist, with mistakes made but ultimately giving herself grace. Stephen grapples with embracing his musical talent and recognizing that his work may not appeal to everyone, understanding that artistic taste is subjective. Meanwhile, Zuri, as cute as ever, urges her parents to participate in a school project, not just to fulfill an assignment, but to showcase how cool and supportive her parents are. Angela and Stephen manage to arrive just in the nick of time, making Zuri proud and treating the kids to some great music for dancing.

Photograph Courtesy of Max

Max screened the first two episodes interactively, engaging the audience with trivia questions related to influential Black movies and TV shows embedded in popular culture. As the evening came to a close, Matthew Cherry, along with other key members of the show, took the stage to express their gratitude to the guests for joining in the celebration of the continuation of their storytelling journey, from Hair Love to Young Love. The Brooklyn audience gave Cherry a well-deserved round of applause, echoing their appreciation for the screening.