THE HAWK FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN AFRICAN CULTURE AND THE WCLM PRESENT: SUMMER OF SOUL

February 14, 2025
The Hawk Foundation for Research and Education in African Culture, The WCLM, Olympia Film Society, and the City of Olympia present:
Summer of Soul
Introduced by Shawna Hawk M.A., founder of The Women of Color in Leadership Movement and Director of Media Island International
6:30pm Doors & 7pm Film
$13 GA & $10 OFS
In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary—part music film, part historical record created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion. Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just one hundred miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park). The footage was never seen and largely forgotten–until now. Summer of Soul shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past and present. The feature includes never-before-seen concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, The 5th Dimension and more.
Dir: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson / 2021 / US / 117 min

“As a part of our Black History Month celebration, this film is in support of our local development of the Rebecca Howard park and the work being done by local, Black folks here in Olympia. The movie ‘Summer of Soul: The Revolution Could not be Televised’ is a very important piece of history that many of us in the Black community were not aware of. These tapes were literally sitting in someone’s basement. This festival happened around the same time as Woodstock, but we only hear about Woodstock. What this documentary represents to Foundational Black Americans is a capturing of hidden history, often times kept from us and the world intentionally. The partnership between the Hawk Foundation for Research and Education in African Culture, The WCLM, the Olympia Film Society, and the City of Olympia, represent the continuous work being down toward restorative Justice for African Americans in our community.” – Shawna Hawk M.A.

About Shawna Hawk M.A.
Shawna is a community advocate and leader who has been doing work around African American liberation, inclusion and representation here in the Olympia area for the past 13 years. Her organization’s partnerships with the Hawk Foundations for Research and Education in African Culture and the City of Olympia as well as other organizations has enabled her to continue this very important work. She is the founder of the Women of Color in Leadership Movement, and the Director of Media Island International.

SCREENING: FRI 2/14 7PM

Tickets are available at the box office 30 minutes before showtimes.

PROGRAMMING SUPPORTED BY