Cinema and Social Justice Sunday screenings are FREE. You must register to attend.
“Emmett Still”
“Emmett Still” captures a day in the precarious life of a young Black man. This is a world where a random encounter with police can quickly turn into a life or death situation. Ultimately, he discovers strength and assurance in the power and beauty of his ancestors. The film’s title references the brutal 1955 lynching of Chicago teen Emmett Till and links Till’s death to the ongoing violence aimed at Black male youth today.
“Don’t Be Nice”
A team of young New York City Slam Poets finds its voice as it competes for the National Championship during the summer of 2016. Mentored by a demanding coach who encourages them to push past their personal boundaries and write from a place of vulnerability, pain and honesty, the poets break down, break through and compose their best work ever. Timely and difficult, their spoken word slays—but will these soul-searching pieces about police violence and the whitewashing of Black culture be able to compete against choreographed crowd- pleasers for the title? Will opting to make a statement instead of a show spell their defeat? An emotional and inspiring film that gives insightful commentary on race, gender, identity and sexual politics in America today, Don’t Be Nice is both an absorbing competition doc and a vital writer’s workshop that proves once and for all that winning hearts and minds is the ultimate prize.