Arkansas PBS > Engage > Pressroom > Indie Lens Pop-Up, AETN to host free screening of 'Tell Them We Are Rising' in Little Rock
Posted 30 Jan 2018
Indie Lens Pop-Up, presented by ITVS, in partnership with Independent Lens, the Arkansas Educational Television Network and the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center will host a free screening of "Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities" Saturday, Feb. 3, at 2 p.m. at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, 501 W. Ninth St., Little Rock. The film explores the pivotal role historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have played over the course of 150 years in American history, culture and identity. The event is free and open to the public.
Immediately following the film will be a panel discussion featuring: Sericia Cole, acting vice president for institutional advancement and external relations at Philander Smith College; Dr. Howard Gibson, interim president of Arkansas Baptist College; Dr. Jerome Green, president of Shorter College; and Dr. Laurence Alexander, chancellor of University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Angela Newkirk, marketing consultant for New Beginnings, will moderate.
"Tell Them We Are Rising" reveals the rich history of HBCUs and the power of higher education to transform lives and advance civil rights and equality in the face of injustice. The latest film from director Stanley Nelson ("Black Panthers," "Freedom Riders") and co-director/co-producer Marco Williams, America's foremost film chronicler of the black experience, "Tell Them We Are Rising" brings to life the powerful story of the rise, influence and evolution of HBCUs.
A haven for black intellectuals, artists and revolutionaries - and a path of promise toward the American dream - HBCUs have educated the architects of freedom movements and cultivated leaders in every field while remaining unapologetically black for more than 150 years. These institutions have nurtured some of the most influential Americans, from Booker T. Washington to Martin Luther King Jr., W.E.B. Du Bois to Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison to Oprah Winfrey, Alice Walker to Spike Lee to Common.
"Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities" will premiere Monday, Feb. 19, at 8 p.m. on AETN. In conjunction with the film, AETN will also air "Barnes and … A Conversation With Stanley Nelson," Monday, Feb. 19, at 6:30 p.m., as well as original shorts about Arkansas's HBCUs.
Indie Lens Pop-Up is a neighborhood series that brings people together for film screenings and community-driven conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on PBS's "Independent Lens," Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders and organizations together to discuss what matters most, from newsworthy topics to family and relationships. For those unable to attend in person, "Independent Lens" shares information on Facebook about online Pop-Up events.
The Arkansas Educational Television Network is Arkansas's only statewide public media network, which enhances lives by providing lifelong learning opportunities for people from all walks of life. AETN delivers local, award-winning productions and classic, trusted PBS programs aimed at sharing Arkansas and the world with viewers through the distinct channels AETN PBS, AETN Create, AETN PBS KIDS, AETN World and AETN AIRS on SAP. Audiences can also watch on several digital platforms, and members with AETN Passport have extended on-demand access to a rich library of public television programming. AETN depends on the generosity of Arkansans and the State of Arkansas to continue offering quality programming. Additional information is available at aetn.org. AETN is broadcast on KETS (Little Rock), KEMV (Mountain View), KETG (Arkadelphia), KAFT (Fayetteville), KTEJ (Jonesboro) and KETZ (El Dorado).