Welcome to Independent Lens.
I'm Pete Schwaba, host of Wisconsin Public Television's
Director's Cut.
Tonight, we bring you a film, Black Memorabilia,
that explores racism in America and those who profit from it .
Black Memorabilia looks into
the lives of those who sell racist collectibles
that include a family of miners in a remote village in China
who actually manufacture racist depictions of black men,
a white Southern antique dealer
who says black history is the "hottest thing going"
and a young Brooklyn-based black artist
who wears face paint and a pillow case
with pronounced holes for her eyes
allowing others to see her painted skin.
The artist, Alexandria Smith, says she dresses like this
to take ownership and control away from
those who use such costumes to be hateful.
Director Chico Colvard
says he has always been fascinated by black memorabilia.
But being black himself he chose not to show those who peddle
these artifacts in a stereotypical, exaggerated way
or in the same way these antiques portray blacks,
saying in effect that he wanted to begin exploring ways
to move beyond indicting people
because to do so seemed like a non-starter.
Black Memorabilia has been described
as a thought-provoking meditation
on how society thirsts for these racist objects
and how those who sell them profit
while others feel the weight of their harm.
Black Memorabilia starts now
on Wisconsin Public Television,
your home for independent film.