Human Relations Council Hosts Black History Movie Nights

Release Date: Thursday, January 26, 2017
Contact: Erica Fields, Dayton Human Relations Council, 937-333-1403
In celebration of Black History Month in February, the Dayton Human Relations
Council will present Black History Movie Nights, with three films followed by
discussion. Admission is free.
The series begins with “The Birth of a Nation” (February 10, 6 p.m.) and continues with “The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution” (February 17, 6 p.m.) and “Higher Learning” (February 24, 6 p.m.).
The films will be presented at the Dayton Metro Library northwest branch (2410
Philadelphia Dr.). Doors open 30 minutes prior to screening time; tickets are not
required. Pizza and beverages will be provided.
The film series is an opportunity to highlight the history and accomplishments
of black American culture as well as explore contemporary issues regarding
race and social justice, while offering insight into the struggles and successes of
African Americans.
Black History Movie Nights are sponsored by the PNC Foundation. For more information, call the Human Relations Council at 937-333-1413.
More information about the films:

The Birth of a Nation (2016): Set against the antebellum South, The Birth of a Nation follows Nat Turner, a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner, accepts an offer to use Nat’s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities–against himself and his fellow slaves–Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom. Birth of a Nation exists to provoke a serious debate about the necessity and limitations of empathy, the morality of retaliatory violence, and the ongoing struggle for justice and equality.
The Black Panthers – Vanguard of the Revolution (2015): The first feature length documentary to explore the Black Panther Party, its significance to the broader American culture and political awakening for black people, and the painful lessons wrought when a movement derails. Their causes, with slogans like “power to the people” and “creating a better world” are relevant again in an era that has seen the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Higher Learning (1995): A film examining the personal, political and racial dilemmas facing a group of college freshmen as they begin their first semester at Columbus University. In this powerful portrait of college life in the 1990s, students struggle to find themselves and adjust to newfound independence. When Remy finds acceptance among a group of neo-Nazis, tensions rise even higher on a campus already divided along racial, socio-economic and gender lines. Race matters in Higher Learning.
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Established in 1962 by the Dayton City Commission, the Dayton Human Relations Council works to influence and ensure a culture of fair treatment, inclusion, and equal access to opportunities for all who live, work, play, and gather in the city of Dayton. The Council provides civil rights enforcement; builds the capacity of minority-owned, woman-owned and small disadvantaged businesses; and administers community relations initiatives.