“I Am Not Your Negro” envisions the book James Baldwin never finished, a radical narration about race in America, using the writer’s own words, as read by actor Samuel L. Jackson.
Alongside rich archival material, the film draws upon Baldwin’s notes on the lives and assassinations of Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to explore and bring a fresh and radical perspective to the current racial narrative in America. Here is a trailer for the film. And here is a review by A.O. Scott, published in “The New York Times.”
Raoul Peck’s Oscar-nominated documentary is a journey into black history that connects the past of the Civil Rights movement to the present of #BlackLivesMatter. It is a film that questions black representation in Hollywood and beyond. And, ultimately, by confronting the deeper connections between the lives and assassination of these three leaders, the film challenges the definition of what America stands for.
Among the panelists leading the discussion will be a representative from the Philly Youth Poetry Movement (PYPM), a non-profit that provides a safe space for Philadelphia teens to discover the power of their voices through spoken word and literary expression.
We look forward to welcoming AFS Upper School students and adult community members to this unique opportunity to view this powerful film and engage in a thoughtful discussion about the issues raised.