2. Enjoy Classic Black Films At The Museum Of The Moving Image
In the United States, there is a long history of Black cinema as a form of creative expression and protest. Over the past 125 years, film has often served as a vehicle for Black Americans to visually showcase their communities’ rich cultural heritage while also highlighting the oppression they have faced. Through critiquing and documenting America’s social change, Black films have consistently reimagined what freedom means in innovative and entertaining ways. In honor of this legacy, the Museum of the Moving Image will be presenting three groundbreaking films on Juneteenth that aim to honor and celebrate what it means to be a Black American.
To begin the day, a series of short films created by young New York City filmmakers which highlight Black history will be shown at the museum’s Redstone Theatre. At 1:00 p.m. the museum will show Channing Godfrey People’s 2020 movie “Miss Juneteenth.” The film dives into the history and legacy of Texas Juneteenth pageant and parade traditions, highlighting the happiness Juneteenth has brought to the Black American community. Following “Miss Juneteenth” is a 3:30 p.m. screening of “Daughters of the Dust” by Julie Dash. Inspired by the story of the Geechee or Gullah people, the movie broke gender, race, and language barriers of the time when it first aired in 1993. Finally, the night will end at 6:00 p.m. with a showing of Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing.” Though the film first premiered in 1989, its poignant portrayal of police brutality and rising racial tensions through the lens of a hot summer day in Bedford-Stuyvesant still remains relevant today. Tickets for each movie are available online for purchase, ranging from $9 to $15.
