“Rafiki” writer-director Wanuri Kahiu is revisiting an important chapter in American history. The Gotham Group has tapped the Kenyan filmmaker to direct “The Black Kids,” a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Deadline broke the news.

Based on Christina Hammonds Reed’s upcoming debut YA novel of the same name, “The Black Kids” centers on a wealthy African-American teenager whose family gets “caught in the vortex” of the riots that erupted after a trial jury acquitted LAPD officers who were filmed using excessive force and brutally beating Rodney King while arresting him.

Allison Davis (“David Makes Man,” “The Underground Railroad”) is penning the adaptation.

Kahiu made headlines in 2018  when “Rafiki,” her feature about a romance between two young Kenyan women, was banned in Kenya due to its LGBTQ subject matter. Kahiu refused to alter the film, saying “I truly believe that an adult Kenyan audience is mature and discerning enough to be able to watch this film and have their own conversation.” The ban was temporarily lifted so the film would be eligible for Oscars consideration.

“Rafiki” made history as the first Kenyan feature to premiere at Cannes Film Festival.

Kahiu has a packed slate. She’s signed on to helm Millie Bobby Brown-starrer “The Thing About Jellyfish” and is adapting Octavia Butler sci-fi “Wild Seed” as a series for Amazon. She’s also attached to direct “Shade,” an HBO pilot that’s being produced by Oprah Winfrey.

“The worst advice I received was to play it safe, agree with the voices of dissent, and be smaller. This has often been repeated to me by my friends and family since the creation of ‘Rafiki,'” Kahiu told us. “The best advice I received was that people want to work with good people, so it helps not only to excel at your craft, but to be kind, joyful, and generous of spirit.”