Visions of the Black Experience

From December 5–7, 2019, the Boxser Diversity Initiative, in partnership with New College of Florida, the Sarasota Film Festival, the Multicultural Health Institute, and the Manasota ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History), presented the inaugural Visions of the Black Experience film series at the Harry Sudakoff Conference Center in Sarasota. This free, reservation-only event celebrated, studied, and explored the African American experience through an engaging mix of films, panel discussions, audience talkbacks, and interactive workshops.

The series opened on December 5 with the world premiere of No Lye: An American Beauty Story (2019), a documentary by Bayer Mack chronicling the rise and decline of the Black-owned ethnic beauty industry in America. Executive Producer Frances Presley Rice introduced the screening. On December 6, audiences viewed Something the Lord Made (2004), a drama about African American surgical pioneer Dr. Vivien Thomas, starring Mos Def, Gabrielle Union, and Alan Rickman, followed by a panel discussion.

December 7 featured a full day of programming: Back to Natural (2019), a documentary on the contemporary natural hair movement, was followed by a discussion with natural hair stylist Monique Moore. An American Ascent (2014), documenting the first Black mountaineering expedition to summit the highest peak in North America, screened next. The evening concluded with Oscar Micheaux, the Czar of Black Hollywood, a profile of the groundbreaking African American author, filmmaker, and independent producer of over 44 films.

In addition to film screenings, attendees participated in hands-on workshops led by Monique Moore on natural hairstyling and professional success, offering both inspiration and practical skills. The three-day festival created a rich, immersive experience that blended art, history, and dialogue, advancing BDI's mission to foster understanding, inclusion, and appreciation of all communities.