How a Banned Judy Blume Book Just Reframed Masculinity for a New Generation

In 1975, Judy Blume’s Forever was banned for its candid depiction of teenage sexuality. Fifty years later, it’s back. This time as a Netflix series reframed through the eyes of a young Black man. And in an age obsessed with masculinity, identity, and emotional suppression, this shift may be more radical than the original.

Showrunner Mara Brock Akil, known for Girlfriends and Being Mary Jane, wanted to update Forever for a generation raised on social media and post-pandemic trauma. “The biggest...