Kalamazoo Valley Museum to host free screening of award-winning ‘Mr. SOUL!’ documentary
The free screening will take place Tuesday, June 17 at 5 p.m. in the Mary Jane Stryker Theater, as part of the museum’s annual Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom: Black Film Festival.
The Kalamazoo Valley Museum will host a free screening of the acclaimed documentary Mr. SOUL! on Tuesday, June 17 at 5 p.m. in its Mary Jane Stryker Theater, as part of its annual Juneteenth Celebration of Freedom: Black Film Festival.
The Emmy-nominated documentary tells the story of SOUL!, the first nationally broadcast all-Black variety show on public television, and its visionary producer Ellis Haizlip. The film, directed by Melissa Haizlip, has garnered 21 awards since its release in 2021, including a Peabody Award, a Critics Choice Award for Best Documentary Feature, and an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Writing.
Following the screening, a panel discussion will feature local Black creatives, curated by Soul Artistry LLC. Admission is free, but seating is limited. Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the museum’s front desk the day of the event.
Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19, marks the oldest known commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. It was officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.
The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and governed by its Board of Trustees. More information on the screening and Juneteenth programming is available at kalamazoomuseum.org.
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