I think it can be lazy, at times, to pretend that every attempt at diversity is a hit. Representation does not always mean quality. Imani Lewis is not just a dark-skinned girl, but she is one who feels like the girls I grew up with-a mixture of vulnerability, ambition, and cool that is very well cultivated, yet seems effortless. Yet, the moment I really perked up was when I saw Calliope “Cal” Burns as played by Imani Lewis.īlack folks talking about representation have discussed colorism and featurism at length, especially when, only a few years ago, nearly all the Black women we were seeing on the major streaming channels were lighter-skinned and biracial. As someone who grew up in the era of vampire fiction being everywhere, I understand the surface-level clichés can be grating, especially for an older audience. When I first watched Netflix’s First Kill, I knew that it would be slightly divisive due to its young adult tone, and the fact that it was obviously dealing with budget issues.
