Black is the Color Unavailable

The topic of race in the United States, a country that claims to embrace the values of freedom and equality, has never been straightforward. Black Is the Color illuminates this complicated reality through the lens of African American art from the Civil War emancipation of Black Americans in the nineteenth century through 2016. Key figures, numerous interviews, and archival materials allow viewers to comprehend that Black Americans in the United States simultaneously are a part of American history and have often been excluded from it. In terms of art, as this film thoughtfully explains, on the one hand we meet artists who have reached beyond popular culture stereotypes and social exclusion to speak about humanity, dignity, and beauty. On the other hand, we see that even after freedom was granted, popular culture was awash with negative depictions that characterized Blacks as lazy, childish, violent, or irresponsible. These cultural artifacts, many...