Black Movie History: Cinematic Milestones & Sacred Grounds

Chicago Movie Tours presents iconic moments in Black cinematic history as well as Burr Oak Cemetery, the final resting place for many prominent Black musicians, athletes, professionals, and more.

In 2018, the short film Something Good—Negro Kiss was added to the National Film Registry. In 2021, another version was discovered in Norway. Both versions of (presumably) the first onscreen kiss by an African American couple have been traced to a Chicago studio from 1898. In this program, participants will learn more about this movie studio as well as the rare footage and the two actors featured in it. 

Participants will also explore Burr Oak Cemetery. In 1927, Burr Oak Cemetery was established as a proper burial site for thousands of African Americans who moved from the Jim Crow South to the Chicago area during the Great Migration. This cemetery has also bee featured memorably on the silver screen. We'll explore its relation to groundbreaking films including Cooley High (1975) and Boyz n the Hood (1991).

Chicago Movie Tours was created in 2019 to share knowledge of classic and contemporary film (and television) with residents of and visitors to Chicagoland.

Join us in person or virtually via Zoom here. 

If participating virtually:

I acknowledge my participation (or my child’s participation) in this virtual program includes the recording of this program which may include my name as listed on my account, images and/or video footage. I grant the Aurora Public Library District my permission to use the photographs and/or video footage for any legal use, including but not limited to: publicity, copyright purposes, illustration, advertising, and web content.  
 
Furthermore, I understand that no royalty, fee or other compensation shall become payable to me by reason of such use. 

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