Soledad O'Brien Joins Drexel for "Who is Black in America?" Documentary Screening
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CNN’s Soledad O’Brien will join Drexel University for an advance screening of the new documentary “Who is Black in America?” on Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., part of a multi-part series moderated by O'Brien, which explores issues of colorism and identity.
In the hour-long documentary, O'Brien follows two 17-year-olds, Becca Khalil and Nayo Jones, on their journeys to find their racial identities. She examines important and provocative questions, such as what does black look like in the United States of America in 2012? Who defines black? And why is there an argument - or disagreement at all - about who counts as black? Can someone choose to be black? Isn't race assigned at birth, just like gender? If race is a choice for some people, why pick black? Why not?
The documentary is scheduled to air on CNN on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. (ET).
The screening at Drexel will take place in Mitchell Auditorium in the Bossone Research Center (3140 Market St.). It will be followed by a panel discussion and question-and-answer session.
The event is sponsored by Drexel’s College of Arts and Sciences and the Africana Studies program. It is free and open to the public, but seating is limited. Please RSVP to Jackie Rios in Africana Studies at africanastudiesdrexel@gmail.com. Limit 2 tickets per person.
Panelists include: Dr. Yaba Blay, assistant teaching professor for Africana Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences at Drexel University and consulting producer for CNN’s “Black in America”; Michaela Angela Davis, writer, image activist, and creator of MAD Free; Perry ‘Vision’ DiVirgilio, artistic director for the Philly Youth Poetry Movement and executive director of Spoken Soul 215; Danyel Smith, former editor-in-chief of Billboard magazine; and Dr. Donald Tibbs, associate professor of law at Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University.
O’Brien is the anchor for CNN morning show "Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien" and special correspondent for CNN/U.S. Since joining the network in 2003, O’Brien has reported breaking news from around the globe and has produced award-winning, record-breaking and critically acclaimed documentaries on some of the most important stories facing the world today. In 2010, she wrote a critically-acclaimed memoir, The Next Big Story: My Journey through the Land of Possibilities, which chronicles her biggest reporting moments and how her upbringing and background have influenced these experiences.