Program Note

Memphis, the hometown for Soul and Jazz music, is also one of the most distressed cities in the United States with high rates of crime and poverty. The federal government offers little support for the city’s residents, the majority of whom are black. Despite these difficulties, the film manages to convey a message of hope through its young, talented students in Stax Music Academy. The after-school program not only helps nurture their musical talent, it also takes them through black history, the civil rights movement and the music inspired by it. A new generation of innovative students inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement look to create their own music at the school. (KIM Sohye)

Director

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  • Hugo Sobelman