Black Memorabilia

Premiered February 4, 2019

Directed by

Chico Colvard

Meet the people who reproduce, consume, and reclaim racially-charged black memorabilia in this provocative film.

EXPLORE THE FILM

About the Documentary

Black Memorabilia explores the world of racist material, both antique and newly produced, that propagate demeaning representations of African Americans. From industrial China to the rural South to Brooklyn, the film shines a light on those who reproduce, consume and reclaim racially-charged items, from banks to Mammy kitchenware, confederate flags, Nazi insignia and other ephemera.

Black Memorabilia asks the provocative questions: When are objects immoral, and when is it right or wrong to possess them? Does historic value supersede offensiveness? At times uncomfortable and often unexpected, Black Memorabilia is a thought-provoking, stimulating addition to our nation’s ongoing conversations about how we think and talk about race.

The Filmmaker

Chico Colvard teaches race, law and media-related courses in Boston. The Founding Curator of the UMB Film Series, he is also the founding member of C-LineFilms, which produces short and long-form documentaries as well as online commercial content. His feature doc, Family Affair, premiered in competition at Sundance and was the first film acquired by Oprah Winfrey for her cable channel, OWN. The film streamed on Netflix, iTunes, and other online outlets and screened at festivals and aired on TV stations around the world. Colvard is a two-time Sundance Fellow, WGBH Filmmaker-in-Residence, Firelight Media Fellow, and Flaherty Fellow and is a frequent guest speaker, moderator, festival panelist, and juror.

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