August Book & Film Discussion: the film “Is That Black Enough For You?” Directed by Elvis Mitchell
In the August SDARJ Book & Film Discussion we’ll be featuring the film:
Is That Black Enough For You?: History and Craft of African-American Cinema (Film)
Directed by Elvis Mitchell
A 2022 documentary directed by Elvis Mitchell that examines the history, craft, and legacy of African-American cinema, with a particular focus on the revolutionary era of the 1970s.
Founder, Dr. Aimee Wiest.
Hosted by Lewes Public Library
Please register to attend *either* In-Person or Online. You will receive a confirmation email within minutes of registering. If you do not receive an email from LibCal, check your spam filter. Or you call the library (302-645-2733) during business hours (M – Th from 10 AM to 2 PM, F from 10 AM to 5 PM, and Sat from 10 AM to 2 PM) and ask a staff person to check on your registration. DO NOT register again.
ABOUT THE FILM
Is That Black Enough for You?!?: History and Craft of African-American Cinema, directed by Elvis Mitchell, is less a traditional documentary and more a passionate, deeply personal love letter to Black cinema. Blending film clips, cultural commentary, and interviews with iconic artists, Mitchell takes viewers on a journey through the history of African American filmmaking—especially the groundbreaking era of the 1970s.
The film explores how Black storytellers, actors, and directors reshaped Hollywood during a time when representation was both limited and transformative. Mitchell connects the dots between early pioneers and the explosion of creativity in the ’70s, highlighting how these films challenged stereotypes and created space for complex, unapologetically Black characters on screen.
Along the way, voices like Whoopi Goldberg, Samuel L. Jackson, and Laurence Fishburne reflect on the impact of these films—not just as entertainment, but as cultural milestones that influenced generations of artists and audiences.
What makes the documentary stand out is its tone: it’s thoughtful, curious, and sometimes even questioning, asking what it really means for a film to be “Black enough.” By the end, it becomes clear that this isn’t just a history lesson—it’s a celebration of creativity, identity, and the enduring power of seeing yourself represented on screen.
Sources: Wikipedia.com BlackFilm.com
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Elvis Mitchell (born December 6, 1958) is an American film critic, host of the public radio show The Treatment, and visiting lecturer at Harvard University. He has served as a film critic for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the LA Weekly, The Detroit Free Press, and The New York Times. He had also been an interviewer for Interview Magazine. In the summer of 2011, he was appointed as curator of LACMA’s new film series, Film Independent at LACMA. He is also currently a Film Scholar and lecturer at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Source: Wikipedia
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