The Heroines Take the Stage.

I was invited to Brooklyn to witness my nephew Tori Mims’ directorial debut, Roots: Herstory. Inside an intimate space on South Oxford Street, guests were welcomed with refreshments and a packed seating area. Beyond a soft cloth partition, a warm cabaret stage had been prepared against the building’s rich wood-paneled walls.

The production brought together one theatrical scene and twenty musical selections, all connected by the idea of experiencing familiar stories from the heroine’s perspective. Live music was performed on cue by two Black teenage musicians on horn and piano, establishing a sound that made the room feel immediate and alive.

An all-female cast of young Black performers carried the production through song, movement, facial expression, gesture, and changing vocal tones. Some moments were lively and expansive; others were quiet, intimate, and emotionally restrained. With little separation between the performers and the audience, every expression could be felt across the room.

Through my camera, I watched individual performances become shared experiences. A raised hand, an exchanged glance, an embrace, or a body held still could communicate as much as the music. The photographs follow that emotional movement—from solitary voices and personal reflection to connection, ensemble performance, and collective celebration.

Roots: Herstory was more than an afternoon of songs. It was Tori’s first opportunity to shape a complete theatrical experience and guide young Black women in bringing the heroines of these stories forward. These images preserve the warmth of the room, the expressiveness of the performers, and the moment his vision became real.