Mya Baker facts for kids

Mya Baker (born in 1974) is an American filmmaker, poet, writer, and director. She grew up in Chicago, Illinois. She has also lived and taught young children in Brooklyn, New York, and spent eight years living in Los Angeles.

About Mya Baker

Mya Baker was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Her father was an electrical engineer, and her mother worked for the EPA. Growing up, she saw many positive Black role models. However, she also experienced racism. She once shared that when she was five years old, she and her family were chased by a group of boys who were yelling mean things.

Mya Baker's Education and Career

Mya Baker studied film at Columbia College in Chicago, Illinois. After her studies, she started her own film company called Shoot Films Not People. Her films have been shown at different film festivals. Before becoming a full-time filmmaker, she also worked as a special education preschool teacher in Brooklyn, New York.

Baker has said that she makes films to help Black men and women, and society as a whole, heal from past hurts. Two of her films, Afraid of Dark and Silence: In Search of Black Female ... in America, work to change unfair ideas about Black men and women.

Her Most Known Film

Mya Baker is most famous for her film Silence: In Search of Black Female ... in America. In this film, she interviewed directors Nzingha Steward and Little X. They talked about how certain images in music videos affect society. The film also looks back at American history, including slavery. It shows how historical events have led to unfair treatment and tensions for Black males today. Baker shares her own experiences and talks to Black men from different generations.

Mya Baker's Films

Mya Baker has created several important films. Here are some of them:

• 1994 - Warrior Queens: This was Baker's first short documentary. It was shown at the Dusable Museum of African American History in Chicago.
• 2004 - Silence: In Search of Black Female ... in America: In this film, she explores old and new myths about Black women. Parts of the film were shown on VH1 in 2006.
• 2010 - Maya Illusion: This is a short film directed by Mya Baker and Amy Werber. It tells the story of a young woman who falls in love, only to find out later that the person has HIV.
• 2014 - Afraid of Dark: This film challenges negative ideas about Black males. It includes interviews with rappers, actors, and politicians. They share their experiences with racism and unfairness. Some people interviewed include Lou Myers, Malik Yoba, Sadat X, Sam Greenlee, and Cornel West.
• 2024 - Finals: This is a short film written, produced, and directed by Mya Baker. It's about a teenager who is bullied but leaves a lasting impression on their classmates on the last day of exams.

Awards and Recognitions

Mya Baker has received many awards and honors for her work:

• 2004 - Telly Award for her documentary Silence: In Search of Black Female ... in America.
• 2006 - BET finalist in the Rap It-Up Competition.
• 2018 - Semifinalist in the Screencraft Horror Competition.
• 2019 - Semifinalist in the Screencraft Screenwriting Fellowship.
• 2018 - Semifinalist in the Script Pipeline Screenplay Competition.
• 2020 - Finalist in the Filmmatic Horror Screenplay Awards (Season 4).
• 2022 - Quarterfinalist in the Emerging Screenwriters Screenplay Competition.
• 2022 - Quarterfinalist in the Filmmatic TV Pilot Awards Season 7.
• 2022 - Semifinalist in the Filmmatic TV Pilot Awards Season 5.
• 2022 - Quarterfinalist in the Filmmatic Short Screenplay Awards Season 9.
• 2023 - Honorable Mention at the Big Apple Film Festival Screenplay Competition Fall.
• 2024 - Top 25 Semifinalist in the Roadmap Writers Shorts Competition.