Double Feature (The Mask x Mumbo Jumbo)

READ MO’ BLACK BOOKS

This idea came to me when I set out to rebuild my physical media collection. In an era where AI companies are consuming and altering books to train their models, preserving Black books and stories that reflect our lived experiences and imagination has been deeply important to me.

I didn’t want just any books or movies. I wanted tangible media in my home that felt nostalgic and familiar, pieces I could revisit time and again without tiring. At a pop-up we were a part of on Chicago's South Side, the phrase "Read Mo' Black Books" resonated deeply with the people who visited my table. That moment captures the heart of Pour Into It Media: celebrating and highlighting stories that truly feel like home.

For our very first pairing, we are matching Jim Carrey’s 1994 classic The Mask with Ishmael Reed’s masterpiece Mumbo Jumbo.

Growing up, I loved Jim Carrey. Even though The Mask came out before I was born, my loved watching him on In Living Color. His character, Stanley Ipkiss, starts off as a shy pushover, but once he puts on the mask, he becomes deeply expressive and largely free of consequences. We have the backdrop of jazz, swing, R&B, and vibrant zoot suits, Mumbo Jumbo felt like the ultimate companion piece.

Black culture is expansive and globally influential. In Mumbo Jumbo, Ishmael Reed introduces "Jes Grew", a cultural phenomenon sweeping the nation, channeling the uncontrollable joy, soul, rhythm, jazz, and dance intrinsic to Black life. Naturally, the establishment panics, demanding assimilation and decorum.

Pairing these two feels especially timely given the ongoing conversations surrounding respectability politics and anti-Blackness. Forces that are not only systemic but far too often perpetuated within our own community.

Each bundle is curated to deliver a complete movie & reading experience:

• The Novel: A paperback edition of Ishmael Reed’s literary satire, Mumbo Jumbo.

• The Film: The Mask (1994) on DVD.

• A Lil Movie Snack: Artisan movie night popcorn from a Black-owned, family-founded brand honoring Gullah Geechee culinary heritage (with a portion of sales donated to Gullah cultural preservation).

• To Reflect & Ponder: A mini African-print pocket notebook, and a library-themed mini notebook for your personal reflections. A vintage-inspired library checkout card, a greeting card, a book-review bookmark, a pen, and vinyl stickers.

• A Letter From Me: Historically, I've always been someone who talks during movies. (I know, I know. We're not supposed to.) But I couldn't curate this box and NOT talk through the thought behind this pairing. Since I won't be in your home to talk to you as you watch this movie and read this book, the letter is the next best thing. I'll walk you through the intention behind this pairing and include a reflection on a question that I would normally ask people as we watch the movie. 

Intentionally and thoughtfully sourced, hand-wrapped in craft paper, twine, and custom Pour Into It wax-sealed packaging.