(ATLANTA) January 24, 2017: On Monday, musical superstar and social critic/activist, Janelle Monáe and civil rights icon, Andrew Young engaged with students, press and influencers at a private screening of I Am Not Your Negro.
Hosted by famed visual artist and scholar, Fahamu Pecou, the evening kicked off with a special presentation by Janelle Monáe who shared background on a special connection that her label, Wondaland Records, has to James Baldwin and his work. She then recited a moving excerpt from Baldwin’s Notes from a Native Son, which set an empowering tone for the event.
In the building were: Egypt Sherrod (HGTV’s “Flipping Virgins”); DJ FaDelf (Celebrity DJ, Author and Motivational Speaker); Isis Valentino (St. Beauty); Jack A. Daniels (Psychotherapist, 5x Bestselling Author and Host of FYI’s “Black Love”); Marshawn Evans (Author, NBC’s “The Apprentice”); Christopher Hicks (Director, Mayor’s Office of Film and Entertainment); Jerika Head-Stewart (Founder, Hat-titude Big Hat Brunch) and many more!
At the end of the screening, the film received a standing ovation, which was the perfect setup to the final highlight of the evening – an intriguing talkback panel discussion moderated by Morehouse Cinema, Television and Emerging Media Studies (CTEMS) Director, Dr. Stephane Dunn and featured Ambassador Andrew Young; Clark Atlanta University African American Studies Professor, Dr. Daniel Black; Morehouse College Asst. Professor of English, Dr. Francine Allen, Georgia Equality Field Organizer, Rob Woods and Fahamu Pecou. The discussion explored everything from the past and present of race relations, the countenance and impact of James Baldwin during the civil rights movement, the relevancy of the documentary to the social issues of today and thoughts on where we go from “here.
Needless to say this film is nothing short of amazing. You will leave it feeling “woke,” with some knowledge of your double consciousness as an African-American. We really see why this film has garnered an Oscar nomination in the Documentary category alongside Ava DuVernay’s Thirteenth. Be sure you catch I Am Not Your Negro nationwide on Friday, February 3rd! Check out more pictures from the event below!
