"A Black Woman's Declaration of Independence" is a capstone for the series and a new beginning for our reckoning. The short film was shot this spring, five years after the series debut at a moment when the discourse around race in this country is ubiquitous and the need for bold works that confront our history is evident. This new short film, from Jessa Ciel and Tré Borden, is a stunning rebuke of white supremacy, and it will certainly spark much-needed conversations around how we move forward. A description of the film is below:

“A Black Woman’s Declaration of Independence” reinforces the notion that the tools, symbols, and artifacts of white supremacy and racism are neither the concern nor the legacy of African Americans; on the contrary, it is the white community that must claim, account for, and ultimately reckon with and purge these items. The film is a confrontation of what America has done to Black people and space for Black people to express freely how we feel about it.

Join us for a special screening of the film and a discussion Dr. Akilah Cadet will lead with the artist on Tuesday, June 29th at 7 pm PST.

The virtual event will stream directly onto Instagram @BlackJuly4th and the Black July 4th YouTube Page.