Felix Adler (Ritchie Szoke), the founder and philosopher of the Ethical Culture Movement, and W.E.B. DuBois (Joe Tolbert), the author of “the Souls of Black Folk” and activist-scholar, are re-imagined in this histo-contemporary retrospective of July 1900. We journey with Adler and DuBois through a series of poetic prose, soulful music and choreo-movements, as they stir in one another justice through a new lens of nonreligious ethics, African-based spirituality, and civil philosophy.
DuBois, after completing a variety of lectures and books is endowed by spirit-of-rightness with a new love for the intersectionality of Africaniety; where all lives can’t matter until black lives matter. As a result, his passion becomes contagious to anyone who comes in contact with his infectious conscious-kindness–his heart-work becomes the coloring of white spaces.
Through an encounter with DuBois, Adler ‘weighs the soul’ of the young negro leader and establishes a life-changing relationship that is solidified at the first Pan-African Conference at the Westminster Hall in London. Adler is also challenged by this consciousness, conflicted by the thoughts of other intellectuals, who reveal a hidden unethical-racist agenda for scholastic fame, and a refusal to acknowledge the true souls and spirits of black folks.
Featuring:
Joe Tolbert, Ritchie Szoke, Sekani Radellant, storäe michele, Elyse Ambrose, Ryan Hill (RJ Love), Brotherhood Dance — Orlando Hunter & Ricarrdo Valentine, Jadele McPherson (Lukumi Arts), Charly Dominguez, E-Raq Diehl Tanika Williams, Kamran Prescott, Law’nence Miller, Bill Lewis, Robert Carito (RBear Carito), James C. Thompson, MehkiEl, and members of the American Ethical Union
Directed & created by Jé Hooper (2017 AEU Mossler Fellow)
Cinematographer: Orisha Photos & Cspinfilms Chris Guzman
Photographer/Imaging: Brianna N. Rohlehr
Edited by Chris Cspins Guzman, Dwayne Gayle, storäe michele
Music: Jadele McPherson & Lindsey Wilson
Set Director: Steven Styles Cobb
Make-up: Steven Steven ‘T’ Pacheco
Costume Designer: Leesa Thompson
Music producer: Kay’Vion RockBishop Sire