Raytown South grad Mara Brock Akil reflects on Kansas City’s role in her Hollywood story
Over the span of Mara Brock Akil’s decorated career, she has kicked down countless doors in Hollywood – including making history at 30 as the youngest African American showrunner on broadcast television with her TV show “Girlfriends.”
But before she created cultural classics like “Girlfriends,” “Being Mary Jane” and “The Game,” she was a kid trying to find her place in Kansas City.
Akil, who graduated from Raytown South High School after moving from Los Angeles as a child, said she initially resisted the move. Looking back, however, she credits Kansas City with shaping part of who she became – especially the work ethic that helped carry her through Hollywood.
Friendship changed everything for her in KC. She recalled befriending someone whom she still holds in high regard today.
“Kansas City became an adventure for me because of friendship,” Akil told The Star. “I learned to actually fall in love with it through the lens of friendship.”
That friendship that changed it all for her was with Lauri Ealom.
“When I think of Kansas City, I think of Lauri Ealom. Lauri and I called ourselves Happy Campers,” Akil said as she reflected on their adventures together. Today, Ealom serves on the Kansas City Board of Election Commissioners, but for Akil, she’s still the childhood friend who helped transform an unfamiliar city into home.
Friendship would later become one of the defining themes in Akil’s work. “Girlfriends” centered the sisterhood of four Black women navigating life, love and careers. “The Game” also explored community, friendships and ambition through the world of professional sports.
Kansas City helped shape her journey, but college became the first major chance to choose a path fully for herself. Many of her high school classmates planned to stay closer to home, like attending Mizzou, but Akil chose Northwestern University, where she studied journalism.
“I think Northwestern was my first major future choice that I got so right,” she said.
That decision eventually led her toward television, where she was a writer for shows like “Moesha” and “The Jamie Foxx Show” before creating a body of work that would help define a generation of Black television.
Kansas City never left
Even after Akil left Missouri, Kansas City continued to show up in her stories.
She said she often names characters after people she loves, revisits places from her past and weaves personal references into her work as a signature.
“It’s my way of giving a hug to a person or place that gave a lot to me,” Akil said.
In “Girlfriends,” the character William often references his Kansas City roots – where he and his family are from in the show.
In her debut novel, “The Revelation of Dionne Daphne,” released this week, Kansas City becomes part of the main character’s journey.
The novel follows Dionne, a beauty editor at Essence magazine, as she confronts her past on a journey that brings her back to KC – which turns into a pivotal point in her life. The story explores family trauma, friendship, healing and the complexities of navigating life as a Black woman.
“Home is within,” Akil shared. “There’s a physical space, yes, but that physical space is as safe as you are safe internally.”
The book arrives as she is also celebrating a new honor and major recognition for her Netflix series “Forever,” which recently earned a Peabody Award. She described the recognition as deeply emotional for her and like God ‘tapped her on the shoulder.’
“I’m still emotional about leading a group of amazing storytellers to be recognized in this high esteem,” Akil said. “It feels like a God hug.”
Her work has helped define modern Black television, from the love-centered world of “Love Is” to the sports and entertainment universe of “The Game” and the complicated ambition of “Being Mary Jane.” Or even the young adult romantic drama series “Forever” that explores coming-of-age joy, love and heartbreak. Her stories center representation and Black women navigating love, identity, career and healing.
After decades of storytelling, she said Kansas City remains part of her creative makeup.
“I know I’m an LA girl, but I know that Kansas City is a big part of my makeup,” she said.
“Kansas City is the hard worker in me and LA is the dreamer in me. And that combination serves me greatly.”
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