Black Nativity is a 2013 musical drama film directed by Kasi Lemmons, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Langston Hughes. The movie is based on the famed Harlem Renaissance poet and playwright's gospel play of the same name. It tells the story of a young African American boy named Langston, played by Jacob Latimore, who lives in Baltimore with his mother, Naima, played by Jennifer Hudson. With Christmas approaching, Naima is struggling to make ends meet, and so she sends Langston to stay with her estranged parents in New York City, Reverend Cornell and Aretha Cobbs, played by Forest Whitaker and Angela Bassett, respectively.
Upon arriving in New York, Langston is immediately struck by the stark contrast between his humble upbringing in Baltimore and his grandparents' affluent lifestyle. However, he is also faced with the challenge of reconnecting with his estranged family, who are still reeling from the death of their own son many years earlier. Langston's attempts to bond with his family are complicated by his grandfather's strict religious beliefs, which clash with Langston's more secular outlook on life.
As Langston struggles to adjust to his new surroundings, he finds solace in the form of a street-wise young woman named Maria, played by Tyrese Gibson. Maria takes Langston under her wing and introduces him to a world of music and dance that he never knew existed. Meanwhile, Langston's mother, who has traveled to New York to find her son, faces her own challenges as she attempts to reconcile with her parents and come to terms with her own troubled past.
As the holiday season approaches, Langston's grandfather decides to put on a Christmas pageant, a modern retelling of the nativity story. The pageant not only brings Langston's family closer together but also serves as a powerful reminder of the true meaning of Christmas, which is hope, love, and forgiveness.
Throughout the movie, Langston's journey is portrayed through inspiring music, dance, and visuals. Black Nativity is a unique retelling of the nativity story with an African American twist that celebrates the joys and challenges of family, faith, and redemption.