Skin privileges

In the chilling shadows of Detroit, MI, on a cold October night in 2016, Skin Privileges unfolds a harrowing tale inspired by true events. The story centers on Tyreka Combs, a 16-year-old with a radiant spirit and unwavering faith, who seeks solace in the sermons of "God's True Blessings" Baptist Church. Her innocence becomes her vulnerability when Reverend Dwayne Hill, a predatory figure cloaked in piety, targets her after service. What begins as a sinister encounter escalates into a nightmare as Hill attempts to assault her in the sanctity of the church. Tyreka fights back, escaping with her life but leaves her bible behind, as a symbol of her shattered trust. Fleeing into the dangerous night, Tyreka’s hope for safety is cruelly dashed when Officer Stanton Wells, with a deceptive smile, ambushes her under the guise of protection. A brutal attack ensues, compounded by the involvement of Chief of Police Norman Yates, revealing a corrupt alliance driven by power and prejudice. The trio’s heinous act leaves Tyreka battered and broken, with her fate sealed in a grim "Round Up" location. Her desperate phone call to a California number, overheard by an unknown listener, becomes her only cry for help—crushed by Dwayne’s fear-driven rage. The aftermath plunges Detroit into mourning as Tyreka succumbs to her injuries in the emergency room, and her father Howard Combs grappling with unbearable grief. A cover-up unfolds, with Yates delivering a hollow public statement, while Dwayne feigns sorrow at her funeral. The city reels, torn between justice and a system that shields the guilty. Skin Privileges is a raw, unflinching exploration of betrayal, racism, and the fight for truth, asking a haunting question: "If God is the only judge, how can you be racist?"—a challenge that lingers long after the final scene.