FIFTY FOUR ELEVEN: AN ODE TO A ‘ROUND THE WAY GIRL

Director and Editor: Sewra G Kidane

Fifty-Four Eleven is NYC slang for the high-top Reebok Freestyle Classic sneakers. Made popular and stylish by NYC girls throughout the boroughs, $54.11 was the price of the sneakers after taxes. They were the must-have kicks of the 80’s and 90’s and came in just about every color. Like all classics, they’ve never gone out of style…

“Fifty Four Eleven” is an ode to all the girls in the neighborhood...’Round The Way. Dedicated to Black women we all knew growing up… dedicated to the young You growing up on the block… dedicated to You, now…

When Akintola asked me to create a film for HYCIDE, I instantly knew my film’s theme would be Black feminine power and I wanted to speak to Black American women specifically. It’s a layered piece touching on our names, our bodies, our culture, our style, and our autonomy as Black women to just BE.

I wanted to show Black women jumping double-dutch, calling out classic Black girl names…your name… said with love. I wanted to show images of Black woman being unbothered, happy and joyous. This is why the ladies are always shown ascending into the air. Their smile makes you smile. I wanted to take you to a place and remind you of how fly you are! A Gem Rock. A Hood Goddess. And what you create… what WE create, is genius!

In the spirit of #SayHerName, to bring awareness to women of police violence, “Fifty Four Eleven” is dedicated to Black women who were the victims of violence or police brutality. The names called out in the film are sung to the cadence of LL Cool J’s hip-hop classic “‘Round The Way Girl”. Lisa, Erica, Pamela, Renee is replaced with “Rakia, Aiyanna, Sharmell, Renisha” along with names of women in my family and friends who were influential in my life growing up. We all know Sean, Eric, Amadou, and Mike. We remember Eleanor, Sandra, Nia, and Renisha as well.

For me, home is where the Hood is.
Home is where my people are!

I love you!