THE CASTE OF BEULA: WHERE BLACK POWER, BUSINESS, AND HISTORY COLLIDE IN HOUSTON'S RIVERSIDE
- Tashana Washington
- Jun 16
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 17
On May 31 and June 1, history wasn’t simply captured — it was made — as The Caste of Beula filmed its highly anticipated trailer in Houston’s historic Riverside community. With cameras rolling inside mansions once occupied by Houston’s earliest Black elite, this production didn’t just borrow a backdrop. It stepped directly into the legacy it seeks to honor.
Riverside Terrace is no ordinary neighborhood. Born in 1924 as a sanctuary for affluent Jewish families barred from Houston’s exclusive River Oaks, Riverside quickly earned the nickname “Jewish River Oaks.” But by the 1950s and 60s, as white flight reshaped the city’s landscape, a new chapter was written. Black professionals—doctors, attorneys, educators, judges, and civil rights leaders—moved into Riverside, transforming it into what many now call the "Black River Oaks." Today, Riverside remains a living symbol of Black excellence, situated just minutes from Texas Southern University and the University of Houston, and bordered by communities still battling the generational impacts of economic exclusion.
It was here, amid these powerful intersections of race, wealth, displacement, and resilience, that The Caste of Beula found its heartbeat.
Roberts & Markland LLP's Historic Properties serve as the home for the Caste of Beula
At its core, The Caste of Beula is not simply a television series — it’s a cultural statement. The story revolves around Blackberry, a global Black-owned talent agency at the height of its influence. But behind the opulence lies a storm of betrayal, ambition, and generational conflict. As loyalties shift and alliances fracture, The Caste of Beula dares to explore questions often left unspoken: Who owns power? What is the cost of achieving it? And what does it take to hold onto it?
Unlike many narratives that center Black trauma or deficit, The Caste of Beula unapologetically showcases Black wealth, global business acumen, and high-stakes boardroom power. Even more uniquely, the story is led by an all-Black cast — predominantly women — occupying spaces rarely seen on screen: CEOs, private equity investors, global dealmakers, and industry titans. These are characters who are not merely surviving — they are defining markets, dictating terms, and rewriting rules on a global scale.
Scenes from the Caste of Beula Trailer Shoot, May 31 - June 1, 2025
“It’s not just a story about money. It’s a story about abandonment, hardship, resilience, and fortitude — qualities embodied within the very structures where we filmed,” says creator Dionne Roberts-Emegha. “These homes once sheltered Jewish families who overcame exclusion, and later Black professionals who faced their own barriers but built wealth, raised families, and carved out legacies in the face of systemic restrictions. This is their story as much as it is ours.”
Inside Robert & Markland's Historic Riverside Properties
That legacy made Riverside not just a location, but a character within the production. The filming was made possible through attorney, Sean A. Roberts and Clive Markland, Roberts & Markland LLP, whose ownership and restoration of eight historic Riverside properties provided an authentic and deeply symbolic setting. Among the properties: fully restored mansions converted into law offices, a boutique hotel, an art gallery, a park and garden space, and a Black Museum currently in development. Throughout the shoot, The Caste of Beula utilized these spaces — the Sean Roberts Chateau, the art gallery, the hotel, and the firm itself — as both filming locations and living monuments to Houston’s Black entrepreneurial spirit.
“There was a moment on set when the cast stood in the main corridor of Attorney Sean Roberts' Chateau, and we all felt the weight of what this meant,” recalls co-Director, Noella Roberts. “We were standing in a house that had once been at the center of exclusion — now owned, restored, and repurposed by Black professionals for Black storytelling. That’s the very essence of what The Caste of Beula represents.”
Beyond its historical and cultural resonance, the Riverside shoot reflects Houston’s growing prominence in the national film and television landscape. As Texas continues to attract major productions, The Caste of Beula demonstrates the rich, untapped stories that live within the state’s own communities — stories that not only entertain but educate and empower.
Scenes from the Caste of Beula Trailer Shoot, May 31 - June 1, 2025
The production itself drew heavily from Houston’s diverse creative community, employing local crew, stylists, designers, and artists. But more importantly, it ignited pride and ownership within the Riverside neighborhood itself. At a time when conversations loom about Riverside’s unique identity, The Caste of Beula stands as both a tribute and a declaration of what Black wealth, artistry, and perseverance have built—and are continuing to build.
As the final scenes wrapped beneath Riverside’s century-old oak trees that line the Roberts & Markland Law Firm, the message became clear: The Caste of Beula is not just a television series seeking airtime. It is part of a larger cultural shift — one where Black stories of power, ownership, and complexity take center stage without apology.
In that sense, The Caste of Beula has already begun claiming its throne.
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