Madison Dept. of Civil Rights invites public to Black History month film and discussion

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The City of Madison Department of Civil Rights, in partnership with the Dane County Tamara D. Grigsby Office for Equity and Inclusion, and Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, invite the public to celebrate the end of Black History Month with a presentation, film viewing and discussion at 6 p.m., Feb. 29, 2024, at Monona Terrace in Madison.

The event is free and open to the public (subject to venue capacity).

The event will start with a Black Heritage Stamp presentation and unveiling featuring Civil Rights Pioneer Constance Baker Motley .

“Honoring the service and sacrifice of courageous African American leaders helps ground us in the past so that we can soar in the present,” Department of Civil Rights Director Norman Davis said.

After the stamp presentation, the Department of Civil Rights will lead a screening of Leaders of Madison’s Black Renaissance in Monona Terrace’s Lecture Hall. This film, by local filmmaker Dr. Charles Taylor, introduces viewers to nearly 40 of Madison’s most prolific Black leaders and trailblazers in ten different genres as they define what is happening in Madison and what it means to the city’s future.

The Tamara D. Grigsby Office for Equity and Inclusion will lead a post-screening discussion with Dr. Taylor and a question-and-answer session with the community about timely and historic topics.

“We are privileged to have award winning documentarian, retired professor, and author, Dr. Taylor with us for this insightful film and discussion,” Davis said.

Event timeline

• 6 p.m.: Doors open and Black Heritage Stamp Presentation
• 7 p.m.: Leaders of Madison’s Black Renaissance Film
• Post-screening: Q&A and Discussion