New Videos

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  Nubia and the Mysteries of Kush

  Arts & Culture

  Hidden away in the Butana region of northern Sudan lie the ruins of ancient Nubia, an African civilization that rivaled Egypt for centuries. This film documents ongoing excavations that study and preserve the deteriorating remains of the Nubian kingdom of Kush. Interviews with Sudanese, American, and European archaeologists and historians are interwoven with stunning footage from dig sites and graphics that illustrate ancient building designs and techniques. Viewers will encounter Nubian temples, pyramids, writing, and artifacts—as well as fresh perspectives on the flowering of culture, technology, and political power in the ancient Nile Valley.

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  Mississippi, America

  Uncategorized

  Narrated by Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, this story uses archival footage and on-camera interviews to reveal the little known, but important chapter in US history: how America’s attorneys volunteered to assist Black Mississippians in their battle for the right to vote and political representation in the 1960’s. It is a story of persistence and courage in the face of oppression and life-threatening violence. Broadcast on PBS Primetime television (1996 – 1999).

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  Tal Como Somos (Just As We Are)

  Communities, Latinx, LGBTQIA

  This documentary follows LGBTQ+ Latinx people, predominantly gay men, providing a look into their lives and experiences of being both Latinx and LGBTQ. The people the documentary focuses on talk about their struggles and joys, including HIV, homophobia, transphobia, marriage, family, and love.

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  For My People: The Life and Writing of Margaret Walker

  Arts & Culture, Black

  Margaret Walker has been described by Nikki Giovanni as the “most famous person nobody knows.” Walker established one of the first Black Studies centers in the nation, was mentored by Langston Hughes and W.E.B. Du Bois, and her signature poem, “For My People,” set a tone and a level of commitment to which African-American writers have been responding ever since. Narrated by Ruby Dee, this biographical film combines conversations with Walker, readings from her poetry, and commentary from leading scholars to make a powerful argument for the centrality of her work to contemporary American literature.

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  Wholesome Roc, Images of Home: Postcard Art (5/13/88)

  Arts & Culture, Chicago

  Wholesome Roc Art Gallery and Cafe, an alternative art space opened in Chicago in 1987, provided a place for artists, particularly black queer artists, to display their art and engage with one another. This video centers an exhibit at Wholesome Roc created by the Architecture Gallery and entitled “Image of Home,” which contains a collection of postcards sent from around the world.

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  7/27/23: Virtual Talks with Video Activists: “East Kentucky Flood”

  Events, Virtual Talks with Video Activists

  Screening and discussion the documentary “East Kentucky Flood,” with filmmakers Joel Cohen, Dee Davis, and Mimi Pickering.

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  [Wholesome Roc Gallery & Cafe, Poetry Tostada 9/19/87]

  Arts & Culture, Chicago

  Wholesome Roc Art Gallery and Cafe, an alternative art space opened in Chicago in 1987, provided a place for artists, particularly black queer artists, to display their art and engage with one another. This video features one of Wholesome Roc’s monthly “poetry tostadas,” an open mic dedicated to poetry, music, and other performances.

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  Wholesome Roc Grand Opening (1990)

  Arts & Culture, Chicago

  Opened in 1987, Wholesome Roc Gallery and Cafe was an alternative art space that hosted exhibitions and events with and focused on queer Black artists in Chicago. This video documents the grand opening of Wholesome Roc’s new space in 1990. It features footage of people performing at their open mic and general footage of the new gallery space.