Join us for a dynamic conversation with Eric Mann, Channing Martinez, and Ayana Morris on the film Why is We Americans?

Ayana Morris is the Co-Director of Why is We Americans? along with Udi Aloni. The film is an exploration of the history of Newark through the eyes of the Baraka Family. From the 1967 Newark rebellion in which Black people were placed under martial law and lived under beyond oppressive conditions to the Black Radical Organizing Tradition of Amiri and Amina Baraka to the election of Ras Baraka as the current Mayor of Newark. Why is We Americans? explores various Black movement traditions from Black nationalism, Black communism, the Black power Movement all through Organizing, activism, art, spoken word and electoral politics.

Eric, Channing, and Ayana speak about all of the aforementioned themes as well as the production and editing of the film, great stories on the cutting room floor, and the beautiful process of working with the Baraka family to create a masterpiece.

On April 22nd the Strategy Center sponsored the showing of Why is We Americans at the 30th Annual Pan African Film and Art Festival. The Strategy Center is looking forward to working closely with Ayana to host a screening of Why is We Americans at the Strategy & Soul Film Theater. Stay tuned for an invite, but today, tune into a great exchange intellectual, cultural, and emotional chemistry.