Film

The Education and Literacy Department presents a free screening of The Right to Read. When a child can’t read, their chances of incarceration, homelessness, and unemployment increase. That’s why Oakland-based NAACP activist Kareem Weaver believes literacy is one of the greatest civil rights issues of our time and is fighting for better reading instruction. “What good is winning the right to vote if we can’t even read the ballot?” Fed up with the bleak reading scores in his own community, Kareem files a petition with the Oakland Unified School District demanding change. The documentary is approximately 70 minutes and will be followed by a reception with refreshments and conversation. RSVP is not required, but highly recommended.

For ADA accommodations, call (213) 228-7430 at least 72 hours prior to the event.

Spike Lee’s seminal biographical drama, based on Malcolm X and Alex Haley’s 1965 book, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, follows the legendary revolutionary figure as portrayed by Denzel Washington through key periods in his life up to his assassination in 1965. Washington was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in the lead role, and costume designer Ruth Carter became the first Black nominee in the category’s history. Of the film’s various periods and the costumes needed to evoke them, Carter has shared: “each stage in his life deserved a different color palette since his mindset was different in all the stages of his life.”

Established in 1988, the National Film Registry is a growing list of films deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” by the Librarian of Congress. Filmmakers, archives, studios, and the public make recommendations, and each December another twenty-five films are added to the Registry, highlighting the importance of their preservation for generations to come. Each year, this highly anticipated announcement has massive implications not just for film workers and cinephiles around the country, but also for the ongoing conservation and legacy of our national film heritage. As of December 14, 2022, the Registry includes 850 films, over 500 of which are represented within the collection of the Academy Film Archive. This limited series showcases the breadth, depth, and diversity of the Registry across its 35-year history.