Documentary and Discussion: Black American Gothic
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:
[b]Wednesday, January 11, 11:50 a.m. - Central Campus
Let Freedom Ring[/b]
A carillon concert in honor of Dr. King.
Tin-Shi Tam, carilloneur
[b]Monday, January 16, 6:00 p.m. - Ames Middle School, 3915 Mortensen Road, Ames, Iowa
Community Birthday Celebration[/b]
Celebrate with song, story and birthday cake. An Ames tradition!
[b]Thursday, January 19, 2012, 4:00 p.m. - Great Hall, Memorial Union
[url=http://www.lectures.iastate.edu/lecture/26554]Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday Celebration[/b][/url]
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.
[b]Thursday, February 2, 8:00 p.m. - Great Hall, Memorial Union
[url=http://www.lectures.iastate.edu/lecture/25236]Who's Afraid of Post-Blackness? Tour[/b][/url]
Tour, a correspondent for NBC and contributing editor at [i]Rolling Stone,[/i] is the author of [i]Who's Afraid of Post-Blackness[/i], a look at what it means to be black today and how blackness has changed over the decades.