Black History at The District

Description

11 AM - 1 PM
Fort Smith Round Table: Golden Nights & Jewels

1 PM - 9 PM
Black Business Pop-ups
Presented by Brew House Companies

6 PM: Short Films

The Fabric of Fort Smith: Commissioned by the Fort Smith Mayor’s Office, the documentary tells the history of African Americans in the area, from the formation of the city to the historic election of the city’s first black mayor.

Catcher: Breaking the Code of Silence (preview and fundraiser): According to Dr. Michael Anthony, “Following the brutal murder of a young white woman in late 1923, the rural town of Catcher, Arkansas, divided along racial lines. Rumors that the woman had been raped and murdered by three Black men angered a portion of the white community who formed a 500-person mob to punish the accused. After an unsuccessful attempt at lynching the men, a small portion of this mob turned its attention to the remaining Black citizens still residing around Catcher. Anonymous notices were posted at several locations throughout the community threatening Black citizens to leave or suffer the consequences. Eleven men armed themselves inside a building, refusing to give in to these warnings. Only after the National Guard was called in did the men finally throw down their guns. When the dust finally settled in Catcher, one Black man was dead, fifteen Black men were in jail, and around three hundred Black citizens had fled the region with nothing but the clothes on their backs…allowing white members to seize lucrative land and mineral rights from Black citizens who had legally held claim to the area for decades.”

7 PM: Feature Film

One Pint at a Time (Winner; 2023 Best People of Color Movie)

Craft beer generates tens of billions of dollars annually for the US economy. Despite beer’s Egyptian and African heritage, these traditions have been mostly forgotten and are rarely found in American brewing culture. Today, Black-owned breweries make up less than 1% of the nearly 9,000 breweries in operation. Eager to shift the historical perception of who makes and drinks beer, Black brewers, brand owners, and influencers across the country are reshaping the craft beer industry and the future of America’s favorite adult beverage.

* Please confirm directly with the promoter or box office to ensure event details have not changed.