The Antiracist Bookshelf

The story behind a courageous band of civil rights activists called Freedom Riders who in 1961 challenged segregation in the American South. Available in Lipscomb Library: DVD 323.119 F85

Black Feminist is a feature length documentary film surrounding the double edged sword of racial and gender oppression that black women face in America. This documentary is told through interviews from scholars, lecturers, writers, business owners, veterans, comedians and authors. In addition to information interviews, this documentary is narrated by our storybook character LaToya Johnson, played by Nadirah Lugg.

This program highlights 100 years of the African-American experience through the life of Isaac Pope, an unassuming WWII hero who was the grandson of slaves and the son of sharecroppers. He reflects on his struggle to achieve the "American Dream" and reveals the path forward in order to achieve racial peace and harmony in the South. Pope was the First Sergeant of the 969th Field Artillery Battery and he fought in the Battle of the Bulge—one of the deadliest battles of WWII. After the war, Isaac Pope continued to serve as a mentor, church leader and advocate for civil and workplace rights. Filmmaker Paula J. Caplan, whose father served with Pope, presents a poignant portrait of the man and the African-American experience.

This film documents the enduring legacy of slavery in today's young black society. David Wilson, a 28-year-old African-American journalist, revisits his family history to find answers to America's racial divide. Along the way, he meets another David Wilson, the descendant of his family's slave master. This discovery leads to a momentous encounter between the two men, whose ancestors were on the opposite sides of freedom. We first observe journalist Wilson as he recalls his upbringing in the gritty streets of Newark, New Jersey, and how this negative environment stirred his desire to uncover the truth about his family's past. Through genealogical research, he discovers his roots are steeped in the slavery of North Carolina. On the plantation where his ancestors were slaves, he finds that the "Big House" is still intact and owned by a direct descendant of his family's slave master. At this point Wilson decides to travel to North Carolina to meet this namesake—a Southern, white conservative. (161 minutes)

In this compelling program, world-renowned author Toni Morrison candidly answers questions regarding how she became a writer, the pain of empathizing with her characters, the sensual nature of her novels, and how it felt to win the Nobel Prize. In addition, she pulls no punches discussing how she first became aware of her racial otherness, how writing for a black audience has kept her work from becoming derivative, the societal uses of racism, and how racism leads to barbarism when individuals abdicate their humanity. (30 minutes)

A journey through intersectionality. Kevin, a mixed-Black, gay person adopted out of foster care, wades through a political existence. With the help of characterized African wildlife, Kevin winds through celebration and despondency. Unfolding through scenes, poetry and education; from systemic racism, police encounters, sexual discovery, shame and ultimately pride, Kevin finds meaning in identity politics.