Welcome to the 27th annual Harlem Film Institute Film Festival. This year we have six films, starting with “A street renaming: Black Panther Party Way”. The film takes a look at a street in Harlem, renamed in dedication to the Black Panther Party, Our second film, “The Million Youth March”, takes a look at the million youth rally, lead by the late Dr. Khalid Muhammad. The film premiered at the first film festival.
The next film, “African Burial Ground Memorial” follows the ceremony and dedication to the burial site of Africans in lower Manhattan. The site includes the World Trade Center area, as well as the center street Courthouses. “Merci’s Journey” chronicles the life of my daughter, Dr.Merci Best, from a toddler to grad school, she is now a neuroscience researcher in Boston,
Anasia: the art of Anasia Mapp”, showcases the exquisite art of Anasia Mapp. The sixth and final film “Mr. Jason Andrew”, tells the haunting story of a life of former Harlem Film Institute student Jason Andrew.
The Harlem Film Institute is honored to induct Hailie Gerima into our Hall of Fame..
Director Turns To AI For Stereotypical Roles Black Actors Won’t Take
Director Paul Schrader sparked a debate after using AI in a film to portray three Black men as a corrupt cop, drug dealer and sexual deviant.
Hollywood has come a long way in its depiction of Black culture, going from an era where we couldn’t even be hired to portray our own race to becoming award-winning actors and actresses in our own right.
Unfortunately, we still deal with controversy when it comes to stereotypical roles reserved specifically for Black people. Although many thespians of color have shown autonomy in what acting jobs they choose to take or deny, the recent developments in artificial intelligence are threatening to add yet another hurdle to clear.
Famed director Paul Schrader proved that with his decision to use A.I. as a replacement for actors in his upcoming film, Three Guns At Dawn. His reason? No Black actors wanted to play the lead roles, which include a corrupt cop, a drug dealer and a sexual deviant.
“We sent it out to actors, and no Black actors wanted to play in a movie where there are no good Black people,” Schrader said in an interview with The Playlist, going on to blatantly add, “And it sort of died. But then AI came along, and I didn’t need Black actors.” The film, which originally had Antoine Fuqua attached to produce it, will reportedly be completely AI-generated. Schrader sees this decision as the project’s main source of pushback, completely ignoring the fact that Black actors simply don’t want to put on a performance that further perpetuates false characteristics of our race.
The Taxi Driver director’s affinity for A.I. has been brewing for a hot minute, even defending the use of it back in 2025 when he wrote on Facebook, “I just asked chatgpt for ‘an idea for Paul Schrader film.’ Then Paul Thomas Anderson. Then Quentin Tarantino. Then Harmony Korine. Then Ingmar Bergman. Then Rossellini. Lang. Scorsese. Murnau. Capra. Ford. Speilberg [sic]. Lynch. Every idea chatgpt came up with (in a few seconds) was good. And original. And fleshed out. Why should writers sit around for months searching for a good idea when AI can provide one in seconds?”
A few days ago, he added to the theory after getting self-satisfying results from ChatGPT on a prompt for a screenplay adaption of the Russell Banks novel, Affliction. “To ignore AI is to ignore the future,” he wrote as a closing statement. Our only rebuttal is, what about ignoring human decency?
In this holiday season, we are honored, with a message to Generation Z, from our contributor, and fellow Gen Z’er, Anasia Mapp. Her favorite Biblical quotes will provide an inspirational message to a generation
I have a message for all Generation Z’s reading this story. All over the blacklist or social media, a message to uplift a generation. -Anasia Mapp
Health Awareness:Most Gen Z’s of today face many obstacles, when it comes to finance, they face job layoffs, and are frankly skeptical about identifying the source of their income that they need to pay for their, mental health, car insurance, health insurance, lifestyle and medical treatment.
Social media: IG and Snapchat, can lead to unhealthy relationships, self-image, or pessimism, due to the lost of friendly human interaction. Even though we’re living a different world, where we would discover the exchange set to expressions on how we feel. You take pictures to post your vulnerabilities, the camera is used to increase our followers, who accepted or unaccepted to the level of support products and ideas.
Political Polarization: Gen Z’ers from ages (19-21) and Millennials, from ages (25-30), although they voted primarily for vice president Kamala Harris, support for president elect, Donald Trump had an increase in. Support from this group. To be fully aware of the media that is blacklisted from presidential nomination for LGBTQ, Racism, Feminism, and Women’s rights. The University of California Los Angeles, Dept. of Psychology study found out what is more debatable to learn more about politics from all over the world to empower diversity for their only influential desire.
Wealthy Generation: Both Baby Boomers and Gen Ze’rs will account for over $12 Trillion dollars to the economy. Gen Ze’rs spending power is likely to grow, due to the emerging social media industries and this will likely increase salaries and lifestyle in the future.
Work Ethic:Baby boomers tend to be more dedicated to their jobs, putting in the longest hours to have an effort to make loyalty of job securities and then prioritizing Gen Z’ers to have a purpose-driven potentiality.
The 25th annual Harlem Film Institute Film Festival
Seneca Village “The forgotten community”.
We kick off the 25th Festival with a film that premiered at our 2nd annual Festival, in August of 2000. Seneca Village “The forgotten Community”, was produced by independent filmmaker, David L. Baughan. When this film was screened, that was the first time i heard about this community of African Americans who lived in what is now known as Central Park. 24 years ago the festival introduced this, as well as a host of topic that remains unreported on.
In 2007, the Slavery and reconciliation Statue was dedicated in Richmond Virginia. This Statue to symbolize Slavery’s reconciliation, connecting Africa, Europe and The United States. This film follows a day of events with speeches by politicians and the unveiling of the statue.
2003, an African Burial Ground Memorial was dedicated to the desecration of African American burial sights in lower Manhattan. The monument is to honor the African American burial sights in lower Manhattan that were bulldozed to make way for the building of the municipal courts in lower Manhattan.
We will be inducting Denzel Washington into the Harlem Film Institute hall of fame. In honor of his illustrious career in film and television, he joins a list black creator who trail- blazed their way to the top of their industry.
Join us for the 25th annual film festival, where we will induct Denzell Washington into our Hall of fame, on August 23rd. In addition to honoring Washington, we will be screening a number of films, including Seneca Village “the forgotten community”, a film that premiered at our 2nd festival, in August of2000.
In honor of Hip Hop’s 50th birthday, we celebrate hip hop with our 24th Film Festival. My first introduction to Hip Hop came in the Summer of 1979, with a record by the Fat back band featuring a rapper by the name of King Tim III, that my older brother had bought. Although Hip Hop started in 1973, the sounds from this record started a love affair with Hip Hop, which continues to this day.
As an artificial intelligence language model, I do not have access to real-time information and events, nor do I have personal opinions or beliefs. However, I can provide a general overview of race relations in the United States based on historical trends and current issues.
Race relations in the United States in 2023 may be shaped by a range of factors, including political and social movements, demographic changes, and ongoing discussions and debates surrounding issues of racial justice and equality. The legacy of systemic racism and inequality continues to impact various aspects of American life, from disparities in education, healthcare, and housing to disproportionate rates of poverty, unemployment, and incarceration among communities of color.
Recent years have seen increased activism and protests, particularly in response to incidents of police brutality and the unjust treatment of Black Americans. This has led to calls for police reform, criminal justice reform, and broader efforts to address systemic racism and inequality. At the same time, there are also ongoing debates and discussions surrounding issues of identity, privilege, and representation, as well as tensions between different racial and ethnic groups.
Despite these challenges, there are also many positive developments and efforts to promote diversity, inclusion, and equity across different sectors of American society, from the workplace to the media and entertainment industries. Overall, race relations in the United States in 2023 may be characterized by a mix of progress and ongoing challenges, as Americans continue to grapple with the legacy of racism and inequality while working towards a more just and equitable society. Ongoing conversations about race, privilege, and power dynamics are necessary for meaningful progress to be made in this area.
Getting Older
Getting older is a natural process of the human body that involves various physical and psychological changes over time. As people age, their bodies undergo many changes, including decreased metabolism, decreased bone density, reduced muscle mass and flexibility, and a decrease in organ function. These changes can lead to an increased risk of various health problems such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and arthritis.
Along with physical changes, people also experience psychological changes as they get older. These changes can include decreased memory and cognitive function, increased wisdom and experience, and changes in emotional stability and resilience. While the aging process is natural, it can also be influenced by various factors such as genetics, lifestyle choices, and environmental factors. For example, regular exercise and a healthy diet can help to slow down the aging process and promote overall health and well-being.
Overall, getting older is a natural part of life that involves various physical and psychological changes. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle and seeking appropriate medical care, individuals can continue to lead fulfilling and active lives as they age.
African American cinema refers to films made by and for African Americans, often exploring the experiences and perspectives of Black people in America. African American cinema has a rich history, dating back to the early 20th century when silent films featuring Black actors were produced. However, it wasn’t until the 1960s and 1970s that African American cinema began to gain wider recognition and acclaim.
During this time, the Civil Rights Movement and Black Power Movement brought about a renewed interest in Black culture and identity, leading to the emergence of the “Blaxploitation” film genre. These films often featured Black actors in lead roles and explored themes such as racism, police brutality, and urban poverty.
In the decades that followed, African American cinema continued to evolve and expand. Filmmakers such as Spike Lee, John Singleton, and Ava DuVernay have gained critical acclaim and mainstream success, while also telling stories that are often overlooked by Hollywood. African American cinema has also diversified, with films exploring a wide range of genres and themes, from romantic comedies to historical dramas.
One of the most important contributions of African American cinema has been its role in giving voice to Black experiences and perspectives, which have historically been marginalized or ignored by mainstream media. Through their films, African American filmmakers have provided a platform for Black artists, actors, and writers to tell their own stories and challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about Black people.
1970-2025
