Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The discourse surrounding #IsGodIs has officially started
Aleasha Harris’ play-turned-film has sparked intense online discourse around Black women’s rage, trauma, accountability, and who is allowed to be seen as “human” on screen. Starring Kara Young, Mallori Johnson, Janelle Monáe, Sterling K. Brown, Erika Alexander, and Vivica A. Fox, the film follows two sisters confronting the violent legacy left behind by an abusive father.
Some viewers criticized the film’s tagline and portrayal of Black men. Others argued the backlash reflects a larger discomfort with seeing Black women centered in stories where they are not simply surviving pain quietly, but rather responding to it loudly, imperfectly, and unapologetically.
“‘Is God Is’ isn’t going to fix anything. It touches on the real, but I also hope that as people think about these horrible acts of femicide, they’re thinking deeply about the ways that the story touches on that” Harris told theGrio.
The timing of the conversation has also struck a nerve. The film arrives amid ongoing discussions about domestic violence and rising awareness around Black femicide, making its themes feel especially raw and urgent for many viewers.
But perhaps the strongest takeaway from “Is God Is” is not whether audiences agree with every character’s choices, but rather whether viewers are willing to sit with discomfort long enough to interrogate those feelings.
#GrioFam, have you watched Is God Is? Share your reactions in the comments
Read more #OnTheGrio
Connect with theGrio
Subscribe: youtube.com/c/thegrio
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Twitter: Twitter.com/theGrio
Website: theGrio.com
The discourse surrounding #IsGodIs has officially started
Aleasha Harris’ play-turned-film has sparked intense online discourse around Black women’s rage, trauma, accountability, and who is allowed to be seen as “human” on screen. Starring Kara Young, Mallori Johnson, Janelle Monáe, Sterling K. Brown, Erika Alexander, and Vivica A. Fox, the film follows two sisters confronting the violent legacy left behind by an abusive father.
Some viewers criticized the film’s tagline and portrayal of Black men. Others argued the backlash reflects a larger discomfort with seeing Black women centered in stories where they are not simply surviving pain quietly, but rather responding to it loudly, imperfectly, and unapologetically.
“‘Is God Is’ isn’t going to fix anything. It touches on the real, but I also hope that as people think about these horrible acts of femicide, they’re thinking deeply about the ways that the story touches on that” Harris told theGrio.
The timing of the conversation has also struck a nerve. The film arrives amid ongoing discussions about domestic violence and rising awareness around Black femicide, making its themes feel especially raw and urgent for many viewers.
But perhaps the strongest takeaway from “Is God Is” is not whether audiences agree with every character’s choices, but rather whether viewers are willing to sit with discomfort long enough to interrogate those feelings.
#GrioFam, have you watched Is God Is? Share your reactions in the comments
Read more #OnTheGrio
Connect with theGrio
Subscribe: youtube.com/c/thegrio
Instagram: instagram.com/theGrio
Facebook: Facebook.com/theGrio
Twitter: Twitter.com/theGrio
Website: theGrio.com
