Adepero Oduye; who had earlier starred in the short film; portrays Alike (pronounced ah-lee-kay); a 17-year-old African-American woman who lives with her parents Audrey and Arthur (Kim Wayans and Charles Parnell) and younger sister Sharonda (Sahra Mellesse) in Brooklyn s Fort Greene neighborhood. She has a flair for poetry; and is a good student at her local high school. Alike is quietly but firmly embracing her identity as a lesbian. With the sometimes boisterous support of her best friend; out lesbian Laura (Pernell Walker); Alike is especially eager to find a girlfriend. At home; her parents marriage is strained and there is further tension in the household whenever Alike s development becomes a topic of discussion. Pressed by her mother into making the acquaintance of a colleague s daughter; Bina (Aasha Davis); Alike finds Bina to be unexpectedly refreshing to socialize with. Wondering how much she can confide in her family; Alike strives to get through adolescence with grace; humor; and tenacity a sometimes succeeding; sometimes not; but always moving forward.