by Megan Klein-Hewett

Ames Public Library, in partnership with the NAACP Ames Branch, Friendship Baptist Church, and Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames, invite you to join us for a series of films centering the experiences of African Americans in the United States. From Harriet Tubman to Nichelle Nichols (otherwise known as Lt. Uhura to the Star Trek fans out there), this film series provides the opportunity to explore the challenges, triumphs, and resilience of the African American community. 

The film committee, comprised of individuals from all of the partner organizations, carefully selected a series of films that reflect key moments in African American history, and each film is followed by a facilitated conversation led by a community member. These conversations help bring the themes of the film home to our community, as well as help participants relate the film’s historical context to today.

Tonight’s film is a 1999 made-for-television movie based on the events that took place in March of 1965 in Selma, Alabama. July 15 will feature a 2021 documentary about the Greenwood district in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the race massacre that took place there.  

July 22 features a 2016 documentary that focuses on the prison-industrial complex, and July 29 features a 2016 documentary that contains social critique through the lens of James Baldwin’s Remember This House.

August 5 brings a feature film that tells the story of a former high school football athlete who is wrongfully convicted, yet eventually succeeds in becoming an NFL star. Finally, August 12 will feature NASA’s work to recruit diverse scientists and engineers, through the leadership of Nichelle Nichols. 

Films are shown each Tuesday at Ames Public Library in the Auditorium at 6 pm with conversation to follow. Join us through August 12!