This upcoming Saturday marks the 156th anniversary of Juneteenth (6/19/1865), the day federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce General Order #3, effectively ending legalized slavery in America.  “The people of Texas are informed,” U.S. General Gordon Granger announced, “that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”

Although the Emancipation Proclamation was signed into law some two years prior by President Abraham Lincoln, Texas had remained a hold out when it came to enslavement of African-Americans, and thus June 19th, 1865 now represents the first day of America’s new beginning.

Film at Lincoln Center is proud to celebrate Juneteenth by offering select programming, educational videos, and resources that help amplify Black voices both throughout history and within our present moment. By showcasing several organizations seeking generous donations to help see out this mission, FLC is hoping to also provide a platform to Black voices of the future.

Although our recommendations are comprehensive, they are never complete, and any suggestions you may have are welcomed. Join our online community on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to provide further suggestions worth highlighting.

Juneteenth FLC programming

Summer of Soul (Saturday, June 19th at 9pm on the Lincoln Center Plaza)

In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary—part music film, part historical record, created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion. A Searchlight release.

Join us for a special Juneteenth celebration at Lincoln Center’s Restart Stages featuring an outdoor screening of Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s Summer of Soul. Enter for a chance to win a FREE pod (two seats) through the Lottery on the TodayTix app. Entries close on June 16 at 12:59 pm ET.

Muhammad Ali, the Greatest (Saturday, June 19th at 3pm in our Walter Reade Theater)

William Klein’s masterful portrait of the Man So Mean He Made Medicine Sick focuses on the lead-ups to and aftermaths of three of his signature fights (both title matches with Sonny Liston in 1964 and 1965, and the Rumble in the Jungle with George Foreman in 1974) and, in the process, miraculously manages to touch on nearly everything the three-time undisputed heavyweight champion of the world represented.

Screening with:  

Meeting the Man: James Baldwin in Paris

Still from Meeting the Man: James Baldwin in Paris. Courtesy of Buzzy Enterprises Ltd.

This rare film document of one of the towering figures of 20th-century American literature—photographed by Jack Hazan (Rude Boy, A Bigger Splash)—captures the iconic writer in several symbolic locations, including the Place de la Bastille. An NYFF58 Revivals selection.

Click here to purchase a ticket for screenings of both Muhammad Ali, the Greatest and Meeting the Man: James Baldwin in Paris,  presented together.

To reflect on the timely themes these two films presented, we were delighted to convene Soraya Nadia McDonald (critic, The Undefeated), Rich Blint (professor and writer, The New School), Samantha Sheppard (professor, Cornell University; author, Sporting Blackness), and Kazembe Balagun (project manager, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung—New York Office) for a rich and enlightening New York Film Festival roundtable discussion moderated by writer and critic Nicholas Russell.

Watch below:

FLC Free Talks

Judas and the Black Messiah Q&A with Shaka King

Judas and the Black Messiah tells the story of Fred Hampton, a young, charismatic activist, who becomes Chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, putting him directly in the crosshairs of the government, the FBI, and the Chicago Police. But to destroy the revolution, the authorities are going to need a man on the inside. In this special conversation, director Shaka King discusses the film with Film at Lincoln Center’s Deputy Director, Eugene Hernandez.

Exterminate All the Brutes Q&A with Raoul Peck, Roxanne Dunbar-Oritz, and Mahmood Mamdani

The past has a future we never expect. Exterminate All the Brutes is a four-part HBO documentary series from filmmaker Raoul Peck that challenges how history is being written. Exterminate All the Brutes is currently airing on HBO Max. This special conversation features director Raoul Peck, Roxanne Dunbar-Oritz, and academic Mahmood Mamdani, moderated by Deputy Director of Film at Lincoln Center, Eugene Hernandez.

One Night in Miami… Q&A with Regina King, Kemp Powers, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, and Leslie Odom Jr.

On the evening of February 25, 1964, four icons of sports, entertainment and activism celebrated one of the greatest upsets in boxing history in a modest motel room in Miami. After claiming the World Heavyweight title for the first time, Cassius Clay (Eli Goree) — who would soon change his name to Muhammad Ali — got together with three friends: human rights activist Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), music superstar Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.) and football legend and emerging action-movie hero Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge). One Night In Miami… is a fictional imagining of the historic night these towering figures spent together. This conversation features director Regina King, screenwriter Kemp Powers, and stars Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, and Leslie Odom Jr, moderated by journalist Beandrea July.

In Conversation with Steve McQueen on Small Axe

Among the most remarkable achievements in recent world cinema, Steve McQueen’s anthology, Small Axe, consists of five films that stirringly chronicle the experiences of London’s West Indian immigrant community across a tumultuous period from the 1960s through the 1980s. To celebrate Small Axe’s theatrical opening at the Film at Lincoln Center as part of our NYFF58 Redux series, McQueen recently joined in conversation with Dennis Lim, Director of Programming for Film at Lincoln Center, to discuss the scope of this remarkable project.

The title of Ava DuVernay’s extraordinary and galvanizing documentary, 13th, refers to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which reads “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States.” The progression from that second qualifying clause to the horrors of mass criminalization and the sprawling American prison industry is laid out by DuVernay with bracing lucidity.

The opening night film of the 54th New York Film Festival, 13th became the first documentary to open the festival, and marking the occasion, Ava DuVernay discussed its making at a press conference with former NYFF Director of Programming, Kent Jones.

The film’s distributor, Netflix, has made the entire film available to stream, free of charge. Watch it below!

Free Resources and Archives

Afro Marxist

This Youtube channel focuses on Black history in all its forms, including political and artistic. An incredible collection of vintage documentaries, newscasts, and interviews with prominent Black voices throughout history. Incredible curated playlists too!

Black Excellence & Abundance

Black Excellence and Abundance uplifts notable Black civilizations and prominent figures from history, hoping that you leave their videos feeling inspired and empowered. Educational in format, the channel’s videos are endlessly informative and provide great starting-off points for further independent research.

Black on Black Cinema

Black on Black Cinema is a bi-weekly podcast with discussions on the ins and outs of Black films. With a touch of humor and a drive for relevant discussion, Black on Black Cinema aims to entertain, as well as, inform.

Black Film Now

Founded in 2018, Black Cinema Now’s mission is to inspire all to keep the longevity of producing quality film & television.  Features reviews of and interviews with Black filmmakers and their work.

Reelblack

Reelblack seeks to entertain, educate, enlighten and empower people through Black film. Since 2007, they have been capturing the New Black Film Revolution through interviews with the filmmakers, actors and musicians that make up the movement. In addition to their original content, they dig through archives to share video and music relevant to these conversations. Updated on a weekly and sometimes daily basis!

Film Independent’s Coffee Talks – Black Film Critics Roundtable

In this Coffee Talk, Film Independent welcomed a panel of Black film critics and entertainment journalists to talk about Hollywood, race, film criticism, the media and much, much more. Featuring Moderator and President of the African American Gil Robertson (LA Times, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Fortune) with Candice Frederick (Elle, New York Times, Huffington Post), Aaron Neuwirth (Variety, We Live) and Terence Johnson (Hollywood Critics Association.)

Recommended Films (and Where to Watch Them)

Support Black-led Film Organizations