December 19, 2023
BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA
WEEKLY DISPATCH
By Leslie Fields-Cruz
WOW! It’s only a few days before 2023 is a wrap. As we step fully into year-end holiday mode, the BPM team and I thought we’d share a few recommendations for your holiday viewing. We’ve selected these films around the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Even if you don’t observe that tradition, we’re certain you’ll enjoy these programs. Most are available to view from the BPM Website’s WATCH page.
BPM Winter Holiday Viewing Guide
(Programs are listed in alignment with the seven principles of Kwanzaa)
Tuesday, December 26
- Black Folk Don’t … Know their History*** (Angela Tucker)
- For the Love of Tinsel (Angela Tucker & Isha Chari)
Thursday, December 28
- Let the Little Light Shine* (Kevin Shaw)
- A Little Off the Top (William Caballero)***
Friday, December 29
- Storming Caesars Palace* (Hazel Gurland-Pooler)
- Descended from the Promised Land: The Legacy of Black Wall Street *** (Nailah Jefferson)
Saturday, December 30
- The American Diplomat (Leola Calzolai-Stewart)
- Max Roach: The Drum Also Waltzes*(Sam Pollard and Ben Shapiro)
Sunday, December 31
- Bill Traylor: Chasing Ghosts (Jeffrey Wolf)
- Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters (Rosalynde LeBlanc & Tom Hurwitz)
- Betye Saar: Taking Care of Business (Christine Turner)
NEW YEAR’S DAY Monday, January 1, 2024
- Fannie Lou Hamer’s America* (Joy Davenport & Monica Land)
- Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands* (Rita Coburn)
I also invite you to include BPM in your year-end giving by clicking the button above. All gifts are welcome.
Finally, we’d love for you to “celebrate” our Anthem Award Finalist entry by clicking here, entering Black Public Media in the search box, selecting Covid Conversations, and completing the form to applaud the series. Though the gold, silver and bronze Anthem Awards are decided by an industry panel, the Community Voice awards are based purely on audience appreciation. Here’s your chance to weigh in and show the public how much we appreciate our filmmakers, Julian Hamer and Yessica Hernandez-Cruz. We’re up against some stiff competition so every voice counts. This Thursday is the celebration deadline.
Have a very merry holiday break! We look forward to seeing you in the new year. Our Weekly Dispatch is on hiatus next week so BPM’s editorial elves can enjoy their break along with the rest of our staff. Our business offices will be closed, too. We’ll return to our desks Tues., Jan. 2, and we’ll publish the first edition of the 2024 BPM newsletter on Tues., Jan. 9. ‘Til then, stay safe and happy viewing!
*These films are available on PBS Passport
** This program is available at 4theloveoftinsel.com
*** These AfroPoP Digital Shorts are streaming on the BPM YouTube channel
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BPM is supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting with further funding from the MacArthur Foundation and the New York State Council on the Arts. BPM is the only nonprofit that offers training, funding and distribution for projects solely about the Black experience. We welcome foundations, corporations and individuals to help with our work. For more information about underwriting and contributions, contact Alisa Norris (alisa@blackpublicmedia.org).
