UC Santa Cruz will present a film screening of I Am Not Your Negro--an award-winning documentary on the life and work of writer James Baldwin, followed by a panel discussion, on Tuesday, February 21, at the Del Mar Theater in Santa Cruz.
The film is based on an unfinished manuscript by Baldwin that was intended to be a radical novel about race in America, told through the lives and assassinations of three of his close friends: Martin Luther King Jr., Medgar Evers, and Malcolm X.
Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, the film is directed by Raoul Peck (Sometimes in April, Lumumba). The documentary has won 11 international awards to date, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature.
UC Santa Cruz feminist studies professor Bettina Aptheker helped to organize the event.
“Brenda Griffin, President of the NAACP in Santa Cruz suggested to me that we do a panel following a showing of this film,” said Aptheker. “Together, and with assist from colleagues at Cabrillo College, and the generous auspices of the Del Mar Theater, we set up a panel.”
“We think it could not be more timely given the resistance building across the United States and the globe to Donald Trump’s draconian and dangerous tweets, actions, and proposals.” Aptheker added.
"Our effort is for dialogue, using Baldwin’s prescience and brilliance to counter white supremacy in all its many guises.”
The film screening begins at 7 p.m., followed by the panel discussion at 9 p.m. Admission to the film includes the panel (save your ticket stubs!)
The panel will include:
Brenda J. Griffin, President, NAACP Santa Cruz
David Anthony, Professor of History, UC Santa Cruz
Bettina Aptheker, Professor of Feminist Studies, UC Santa Cruz
Ronaldo Wilson, Professor of Literature & Creative Writing, UC Santa Cruz
Vicki Fabbri, Communication Studies, Cabrillo College
Michael Pebworth, Professor of History, Cabrillo College
This event is sponsored by NAACP Santa Cruz, the Institute for Humanities Research and the Feminist Studies Department at UC Santa Cruz.
Advance tickets are available at the Landmark Theaters web site.
