Films at NIC honoring Black History Month

The effect of music and dance during different time periods in black history will be the focus of two films presented at North Idaho College this month in honor of Black History Month.

“Rize” is a documentary directed by David LaChapelle about the street dance phenomenon “krumping.” The dance evolved as an escape from the violence faced every day in the tough streets of south central Los Angeles, where the dance originated.

“Rize” will be shown at 7 p.m. Tuesday and again at 4 p.m. Friday in Molstead Library’s Todd Hall, on NIC’s main campus.

“Amandla” is a film by director Lee Hirsch that records the history of music used as a form of social protest against Apartheid in South Africa. The footage used in the film documents the apartheid, which included the forced removal of black South Africans to government-built townships, the passing of race laws, the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela and other elements of the institutionalization of racial discrimination through the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Interviews and archival footage help tell the stories of figures such as Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Abdullah Ibrahim, Mandela and Vuyisile Mini who used music to communicate, motivate and unite.

The film will be presented at 7 p.m. Feb. 22, and again at 4 p.m. Feb. 24 in Molstead Library’s Todd Hall.

The film presentations are free and open to the public.