Documentary and discussion: Black American Gothic

Date/Time:	Thursday, 26 Jan 2012 at 7:00 pm
Location:	Great Hall, Memorial Union
Cost:	Free
Contact:
Phone:	515-294-9934
Channel:	Lecture Series
Categories:	Diversity Lectures
Actions:	Download iCal/vCal | Email Reminder

"Black American Gothic" is a documentary film about urban migration from Chicago to Iowa City. Independent filmmaker Carla Wilson tells the story through the experience of Iowa City residents, old and new, and looks specifically at how changing demographics in the community have affected low-income housing, public schools, and law enforcement. A discussion will follow the 50-min film. Part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Series.

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When Carla Wilson moved to Iowa City from Los Angeles in 2004, she saw an influx of poor blacks from Chicago and a community resistant to change. She heard quiet conversations, read about black migrants and Section 8 housing assistance and saw black children being labeled as difficult and the cause of falling testscores. It drove her to start a three-year project examining how Iowa City accepts new black families, and the overall trend of underclass urban flight to supposed safe havens.

Other events featured in the 2012 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Series include:

Wednesday, January 11, 11:50 a.m. - Central Campus
Let Freedom Ring
A carillon concert in honor of Dr. King.
Tin-Shi Tam, carilloneur

Monday, January 16, 6:00 p.m. - Ames Middle School, 3915 Mortensen Road, Ames, Iowa
Community Birthday Celebration
Celebrate with song, story and birthday cake. An Ames tradition!

Thursday, January 19, 2012, 4:00 p.m. - Great Hall, Memorial Union
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday Celebration
Musical performances and speakers celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King. Speakers and presentation of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Advancing One Community Awards. Birthday cake graciously donated by Campus Dining Services.

Thursday, February 2, 8:00 p.m. - Great Hall, Memorial Union
Who's Afraid of Post-Blackness? Tour
Tour, a correspondent for NBC and contributing editor at Rolling Stone, is the author of Who's Afraid of Post-Blackness, a look at what it means to be black today and how blackness has changed over the decades.