“Familiar” is a play that is best represented by the aesthetic theory of Trey Ellis. Trey Ellis’ aesthetic theory is best described as the “New Black Aesthetic” which means that a black individual who possesses the ability to thrive and successfully exist in white society while simultaneously maintain all facets of his or her convoluted cultural identity. This is best represented in the play because Tendi wants to perform the Roora ceremony which is paying homage to her family’s ancestry of being from Zimbabwe; however, her mom challenges her wanting her to continue with the assimilated white Christian culture. Tendi then towards the end of the play is given a secret from her aunt Anne that she was born in Zimbabwe and not in America and everything