In 2008, she directed Slaying Goliath, a documentary following 10 days in the life of her son's Harlem-based fifth-grade basketball team at a national tournament in suburban Florida.
[6] Stephenson's work is deeply rooted in non-fiction storytelling that explores themes of race, identity, and systemic injustice through a Black Atlantic lens.
She incorporates hybrid, experimental, and immersive filmmaking techniques to reimagine traditional documentary storytelling, pushing the boundaries of non-fiction cinema.
The film blends archival footage, poetry, and science-fiction-inspired elements to reflect on the legacy of Black radical thought.
Stephenson has also expanded her storytelling to include experimental and hybrid works, such as Elena, which explores generational trauma and Afro-Caribbean identity through a deeply personal lens.
She continues to push boundaries in non-fiction filmmaking by blending documentary with fiction, immersive media, and interdisciplinary storytelling.
Stephenson and her husband, Joe Brewster, were honored with an NAACP Image Award for their companion book, Promises Kept: Raising Black Boys to Succeed in School and in Life.