Documentary and Discussion: Black American Gothic
Thursday, 26 Jan 2012 at 7:00 pm – Great Hall, Memorial Union
Black American Gothic is a documentary film about urban migration from Chicago to Iowa City. It deals with racial politics in Iowa City after the demise of public housing in Chicago. Independent filmmaker Carla Wilson tells the story through the experience of Iowa City residents, both old and new, black and white. She looks specifically at how changing demographics in the community have affected low-income housing, public schools, and law enforcement. A discussion will immediately follow the 48-min film moderated by Interim Director of Community and Regional Planning Douglas Johnston with Professor Jane Rongerude providing brief opening remarks on the redevelopment of public housing. Part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Series.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.
Cosponsored By:
- College of Design
- Community and Regional Planning
- Community and Regional Planning Club
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Planning Committee
- Committee on Lectures (funded by Student Government)
Stay for the entire event, including the brief question-and-answer session that follows the formal presentation. Most events run 75 minutes.
Sign-ins are after the event concludes. For lectures in the Memorial Union, go to the information desk in the Main Lounge. In other academic buildings, look for signage outside the auditorium.
Lecture Etiquette
- Stay for the entire lecture and the brief audience Q&A. If a student needs to leave early, he or she should sit near the back and exit discreetly.
- Do not bring food or uncovered drinks into the lecture.
- Check with Lectures staff before taking photographs or recording any portion of the event. There are often restrictions. Cell phones, tablets and laptops may be used to take notes or for class assignments.
- Keep questions or comments brief and concise to allow as many as possible.