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15 Jan, 2012

African Diaspora Museum Marks Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) views Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (January 16, 2012), as an opportunity to highlight the rich accomplishments of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement, and offers free admission and special programs throughout the day.

A special component of this yearʼs programming is the screening of the Lucasfilm LTD documentary, “Double Victory,” which spotlights the historic role of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, revealing the ways these pioneering African Americans bravely fought a war on two fronts: fascism abroad and racial injustice and inequality at home. “Double Victory” is being co-presented by MoAD and the MLK Liberation Film Festival. The screening is followed by a panel discussion featuring legendary World War II Tuskegee Airmen.

Grace C. Stanislaus, MoAD’s Executive Director shared her excitement this way – “Weʼre looking forward to this yearʼs celebration, and are especially appreciative of Lucasfilm and History Channel for making the Double Victory documentary available to us. Weʼre thrilled to co-present it along with the Tuskegee Airmen panel discussion in partnership with the MLK Liberation Film Festival.”

MoADʼs events on MLK, Jr. Day culminate a weekend of Bay Area activity, kicked off Friday morning, January 13 in San Jose by the Northern California Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Foundation at the Martin Luther King Library in San Jose (visit www.norcalmlk.com for more information). MoAD joins the Foundation at 4:00pm for the first screening of Double Victory at the City Council Chambers, San Jose City Hall.

The screening and panel discussion are the West Coast companion events to an entire weekend of activity celebrating MLK Weekend at Tuskegee University as Lucasfilm readies for the release of Red Tails, an epic action-packed film inspired by the heroics of the Tuskegee Airmen. Red Tails opens in theaters on January 20 (visit www.redtails2012.com for more information and www.teamredtails.com to Take Action).

Regional community events for MLK Day will culminate at the Museum of the African Diaspora on Monday, January 16 in a series of free activities and programs around the theme, “What Is Your Dream?,” developed to help expand knowledge of Dr. King’s vision and influence (visit www.moadsf.org for more information).

The day at MoAD is made possible through a donation from The Clorox Company.

At 2:00pm Monday MoAD will co-present the Double Victory documentary with the MLK Liberation Film Festival, taking advantage of the 760 seat Novellus Theater conveniently located across the street at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (3rd and Howard). Well known Bay Area TV news personality Barbara Rodgers will moderate the Tuskegee Airmen panel discussion that follows.

MoAD will also screen a shortened (15 min) version of Double Victory starting Monday and playing continuously at the museum through the end of February, Black History Month.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES at MoAD (Free Admission)

On view (exhibition) – COLLECTED: Stories of Acquisition and Reclamation

Mini College Fair featuring representatives from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) (12:00pm – 4:00pm)

The 411 on HCBUs – a presentation by HBCU campus tours (12:00pm – 1:00pm)

Vision Board Drop-In Art Activity (12:00pm – 4:00pm)

More Than A Month – Filmmaker Shukree Hassan Tilghman sets off on a cross-country campaign to end Black History Month. His tongue-in-cheek journey explores the complexity and contradictions of relegating an entire groupʼs history to one month in a so-called “post-racial” America. Film screening followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker. Co-presented by MoAD, ITVS and KQED. (1:00pm – 3:00pm)

The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement – a documentary that chronicles the stories of a barber-turned-civil rights leader during the 2008 presidential campaign. Film screening followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker. (3:30p – 5:00p)

Sidewalk Chart Art with Jamie Treacy (1:00pm – 3:00pm)

The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) showcases the history, art and the cultural richness that resulted from the dispersal of Africans throughout the world with innovative and engaging exhibitions, education and public programs. Incorporated in 2002 as a 501(c) (3) nonprofit, MoAD opened its doors in 2005 in space contiguous with the St. Regis Hotel and Residences and in the historic Williams Building at 685 Mission Street at Third. MoAD was conceived as a cornerstone of the revitalization of downtown San Francisco, and has become an anchor with its neighbors, the San Francisco MoMA, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Zeum, and the Contemporary Jewish Museum, making this dynamic cultural corridor a premier destination.