The 2016 March on Washington Film Festival will return to Washington, DC beginning July 13. The festival seeks to increase awareness of the events and heroes of the Civil Rights Era and inspire renewed passion for activism. The festival includes film, music, and the arts to share important stories.
Here’s a glimpse of this year’s schedule:
Wednesday July 13 –Metropolitan AME Church – 6:30p
Songs of the Civil Rights Movement
Admission: $10
This event features a panel discussion and performance by the surviving original Freedom Singers and the music they created and sang which grew out of the movement and inspired its actions.
Guests include:
• Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, Rutha Harris and Charles Neblett
• With Special guest, Toshi Reagon.
• And a Building a Vocal Community sing led by Ysaye Barnwell
Moderator: Award-winning radio personality and producer, Jacquie Gales Webb.
Shannon Dorsey, Actor, Fannie Lou Hamer monologue
Tuesday, July 19 – 6:00 p.m. NPR
Black Music and Civil Rights This event draws on the career of Mavis Staples and the role of Stax Records and Black radio DJs in the Civil Rights movement.
Film: ‘Mavis!’
Moderator: Jacquie Gales Webb, radio host and executive producer of Black Radio Telling It Like It Was
Panelists:
• Al Bell, former radio DJ, songwriter, record producer, co-owner and CEO of Stax Records
• Sonja Williams, author, broadcast journalist, media trainer and Gracie and Peabody Award-winning professor, Howard University Department of Media, Journalism and Film
Jonathan Jackson, Business professor, entrepreneur and social justice advocate
Special Performance – Victoria Purcell (soprano) and Byron Nichols (tenor) join Robert Ellis and the NEWorks House Band to perform signature repertoire from the Stax Records catalog in this tribute to Black Radio and Civil Rights.
The complete festival schedule and ticket information can be found at their website: March on Washington Festival.
Access Granted Journal 