Regular: $14 / $10 Matinee
Members: $10 / $5 Matinee
By turns kinetic and intimate, WHY IS WE AMERICANS? is an in-depth, cinematic exploration of Newark’s legendary Baraka family, the patriarch of which being the one and only Amiri Baraka (formerly known as LeRoi Jones), one of the most prodigious African American poet/playwright/activists of our time. From the Newark Rebellion of 1967 to current day, the city’s narrative has been one of revolution with each generation picking up where the previous had left off. WHY IS WE AMERICANS? weighs in on Newark’s struggle against oppression through the personal triumphs and tragedies of the Baraka family — from Amiri’s civil rights leadership and ultimate artistic marginalization, to the horrific murder of his sister, Kimako, through the homicide of daughter Shani (one of the first openly gay black activists) to the historic election of Ras Baraka as mayor of Newark, NJ…and through it all, it is the matriarch, Amina Baraka, who emerges as the story’s lodestar and moral compass. Spanning decades of social activism, poetry, music, art, and politics, this kaleidoscopic family saga is framed by on-camera interviews with Ms. Lauryn Hill and local civil rights leaders, rare archival footage and revealing personal testimonials. As we connect with the iconoclastic poet Amiri Baraka, his wife, Amina, and their son, Ras, a portrait of a city emerges with an inspiring call to arms in the fight for class and racial justice.
Q&A with co-directors Udi Aloni and Ayana Stafford-Morris to follow Saturday’s free screening.
Presented in Partnership with
All screenings at The Clairidge require proof of vaccination and masks when not eating or drinking. Please visit this page for our full set of COVID-19 safety protocols.
James Sweeney wrote, directed, and stars in TWINLESS, a delightful comedy that follows two friends who meet in a twin bereavement support group and form an unlikely, fragile bond that will go on to redefine their relationship to the past.
After the death of her husband, Tabatha — a young, tattooed, rebellious horse trainer — wrestles with financial insecurity and unresolved grief while providing refuge for a group of wayward teenagers on her broken-down ranch in the Badlands.
Narrated by Maya Hawke, VIDEOHEAVEN creates a monumental cinematic history of the beloved video store of a now bygone era.
After the mysterious disappearance of their baby daughter, a young couple receives strange videos and realizes someone has been filming their daily life.
A celebration of the power of storytelling, SPEAK. is an electrifying portrait of teen storytellers preparing to compete in the prestigious NSDA Championships, the “Super Bowl of public speaking”.
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