Woke Up Black film makes debut

Chicagoan Mary F. Morten’s Woke Up Black documentary had its premiere Feb. 25 before a sold-out audience at the Gene Siskel Film Center.

Director Morten’s team followed five Black youth for two years to “get a glimpse of their lives, their struggles, and their dreams.” The five youth come from diverse backgrounds, including one teen boy raised by two gay dads, and one gender queer young woman who is struggling to understand her parents’ lack of acceptance. Three of the five youth and some parents attended the film and post-show reception.

The five youth featured in the film are Ansheera “Ace” Hillard, Sheldon Smith, Rosalee Johnson, Morgan Price and Carter Tindell-Hall. The film is wonderfully edited to weave the complicated stories together, and honestly portrays the youth as they discuss their lives, from school to music, and how the media negatively portrays most Black youth.

As Morten stated: “The film places at its center the voices of Black youth; their ideas, attitudes and opinions, thoughts that are often overlooked in today’s society.”

In addition to Morten, three associate producers also teamed up to follow the youth for the two-year shooting schedule: Keisha Farmer-Smith, Aparna Sharma and Marisol Ybarra.

Screenings are scheduled so far in Tucson, Memphis, New York and Charleston, SC. Email info@wokeupblack.com.

Photos by Kat Fitzgerald (MysticImagesPhotography.com)