What Do You Know About Your Community's Black History?
This Black History Month, we’ve reconnected with one of our partners, Black Freedom Communities, a project by Art Is Cool.
Here, you’ll find a few journaling questions from the project’s Director Funmi Ogunro and Producer Tamar Price, as well as a recording from one of their talks with Future Front in 2020.
Use this a mini-guide and solo exercise for examining your own relationship with history. Enjoy!
First, take thirty minutes to journal.
1. What do you know about your own family history?
Write down a few things to get your brain going—like where you’re from, where your family lives, etc.
2. What do you know about your Texas community’s history?
When you think of the community you live in right now, what histories are you familiar with? What iconography, stories or culture do you associate with your community?
3. What do you know about your community and its Black History?
Are you familiar with cultural centers, creators or history museums that explore Black History? Do you know who used to live in your neighborhood?
4. Based on your answers to the three questions above, what would you like to learn about your community and its Black History today?
Journal out three next steps (or questions you’d like to answer) over the next month.
Next, set time aside to start learning.
You can start with this 2-hour talk about Black Freedom Communities through Art Is Cool.
Behind this talk:
Funmi Ogunro has been a regular exhibiting filmmaker with Future Front and The Front Fest. In 2020, we became one of the community partners around her upcoming film, Black Freedom Communities. The film is currently fundraising $100,000 to connect the histories of Black people in Austin to the future. You can learn more here: http://www.artiscool.co/
This recording from the Future Front archives features a talk with filmmaker Funmi Ogunro and the documentary team behind their upcoming film Black Freedom Communities.
Austin Black Freedom Communities are communities built by former enslaved African Americans after the Civil War ended in 1865. These communities were built with little resources from the ground up and included churches, schools, and stores.
This talk is free and available to all.
GET ACCESS TO THE FULL RECORDING:
Behind Black Freedom Communities:
Austin Black Freedom Communities is a feature-length film detailing the many rich history of Black people and Black Freedom Communities in Austin, Texas.
FUNMI OGUNRO:
Funmi Ogunro (she/her/hers) is a native Austinite and filmmaker, launching the production of her first feature-length documentary about Austin Black Freedom Communities. She decided to make this film because many people are unaware of the rich history of Black people in Austin—and it’s time for these stories to be told.
TAMAR PRICE:
Tamar (she/her/hers) is a creative producer with a background in film, events, and art. Her film work has garnered almost half a million views via Issa Rae’s Presents YouTube channel, and been screened at SXSW, Palm Springs Short Fest, Indy Shorts Fest, and more. She currently produces work with award-winning ad agency Material.
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