2026 PAST EVENTS

February 21, 2026-Film Festival

Southside with You (2016) is a romantic drama film that chronicles the first date of Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson in 1989 Chicago. Directed by Richard Tanne, the film follows the future President and First Lady (played by Parker Sawyers and Tika Sumpter) as they visit an art exhibit, attend a community meeting, and watch Do the Right Thing. 

February 21, 2026-Film Festival

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete (2013) is a gritty drama about two inner-city boys, 13-year-old Mister (Skylan Brooks) and 9-year-old Pete (Ethan Dizon), who are left to fend for themselves in Brooklyn over a sweltering summer after their drug-addicted mothers are arrested. The film follows their survival, dodging child services and navigating poverty, anchored by their bond and Mister’s dream of auditioning for an acting role.

April 18, 2026

American Fiction (2023) is a satirical comedy-drama directed by Cord Jefferson, starring Jeffrey Wright as a frustrated Black novelist who mocks the publishing industry by writing a stereotypical "Black" book, only for it to become a massive hit. The film, based on Percival Everett’s 2001 novel Erasure, tackles cultural stereotypes, academia, and industry hypocrisy, earning critical acclaim for its nuanced critique and performances.

Juneteenth 2026

Bayard Rustin, the often-overlooked architect of the 1963 March on Washington played an important role in the civil rights era, but both external racism and homophobia kept him out of the spotlight. The film is the first narrative feature from Higher Ground Productions, the production company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama. Our club discussion will look at Rustin’s life and impact, along with discussion about how and why blacks made strategic decisions about priorities within popular sexual and racial stereotypes.  

August 2026

Nick Cannon plays a new arrival drummer to a black university. He meets fellow student Zoe Saldano but must adjust to a completely different environment and new life challenges. Talent is not enough!  Show-stopping marching bands and performances are part of the story. Refreshments and door prizes.  No admission charge but donations accepted.