JUNETEENTH: THE ART OF NIKKI GIOVANNI – Film, Art & Discussion

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize in the Sundance U.S. Documentary Competition, this beguiling documentary follows poet and activist Nikki Giovanni as she approaches age 80. The film explores Giovanni’s Afrofuturist-feminist philosophical outlook as well as her poignant relationship with her family, her political audacity, and her poetic eloquence.  Giovanni acts as our guide and narrator, looking back at a personal life and history cast in the long shadow of American racism, and looking forward toward hopeful, possible futures. Featuring the voice of Taraji P. Henson. (2023, Runtime 1 hour 36 minutes)

Nikki Giovanni is so cool… Just being in her presence is more than enough.

– Christy Lemire, FilmWeek

5:00 PM      Reception and Art Activities with Jamaal Durr;

Pop-Up Library featuring the writings of Nikki Giovanni from the Dayton Metro Library

5:30 PM      Remarks begin in the Rosewood Theatre;

Kettering student winners of the 2024 MLK Contest (tentative)

5:45 PM      Film Screening: “Going to Mars: The Nikki Giovanni Project”

7:30 PM      Facilitated Discussion with Dr. Queen Meccasia Zabriskie, Naykishia Darby & Jamaal Durr