Terry Crews to Star in Obama-Era Film
Terry Crews and Jermaine Harris have been cast to star in *Inauguration Day*, a dramedy set during President Obama’s 2009 inauguration. The film is described as a socially resonant coming-of-age story, with will.i.am on board as an executive producer.
The film is the feature directorial debut for Sundance alum Sterling Hampton IV and is based on his own experiences attending a predominantly white high school during Obama's first inauguration. The story unfolds over a single day as a well-intentioned celebration of the historic event spirals into chaos, exposing underlying racial tensions among students. Jermaine Harris stars as Frederick, a teenager navigating his identity and friendships, while Terry Crews plays his larger-than-life father, Anthony, who intensifies the day's tense atmosphere. The screenplay was written by Sabrina Lassegue, who also has a role in the film. The 2009 inauguration of Barack Obama, the first African American president, was a historically significant event that drew an estimated 1.8 million people to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The event was a cultural touchstone, widely seen as a symbol of progress and a culmination of the Civil Rights Movement. The film explores themes of identity, assimilation, and the feeling of being unseen, even amidst a moment of national unity and celebration. It aims to contrast the national sense of progress with the personal realities and challenges faced by Black students in certain environments.
