Trinity Community Celebrates Black History Month with Film Screening and Panel

To celebrate Black History Month, Trinity College’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Multicultural Affairs Council (MAC) hosted a series of events attended by students, faculty, staff, and local residents throughout February. This year’s theme was “Celebrating Black Joy,” which the organizers said means actively acknowledging, uplifting, and expressing the positive experiences, happiness, and cultural richness within the Black community.

On Sunday, February 23, a crowd gathered in Cinestudio for a free, open-to-all showing of Exhibiting Forgiveness (2024), followed by a panel discussion addressing its many themes and messages. The program was part of Trinity’s Black History Month programming and was sponsored by the Greater Hartford Chapter of the Links, Inc. Arts Facet Committee. “This event highlights the transformative role of art in healing and justice, aligning with our commitment to fostering cultural enrichment and meaningful dialogue within the community,” said Kimberley Scott of the Links.

The film was written and directed by Titus Kaphar, an African-American artist and filmmaker whose paintings were featured as focal pieces throughout the movie. Exhibiting Forgiveness tells the story of Tarrell (André Holland), whose path to success as a painter is derailed by an unexpected visit from his estranged father, La’Ron (John Earl Jelks), with whom he struggles to reconcile.

Following the screening of the film, three panelists took the stage to reflect upon their viewing experiences: Haben Abraham ’10 serves as the director of the Trinity Counseling and Wellness Center and is involved in research on social justice initiatives domestically and abroad; Chris Cooper ’23 is an artist and communications design associate in Trinity’s Office of Communications and Marketing; John L. Selders Jr. is assistant dean and director of community standards and restorative justice at Trinity College. Selders also is a pastor and co-founder of Moral Monday CT.

Initially, the panelists were asked to give their thoughts on the film. Cooper called Exhibiting Forgiveness “beautiful yet also very heavy, hitting home on a couple of notes.”

Moderator Lisa Holloway—a licensed clinical social worker—prompted the panelists to discuss art as a response to trauma, specifically African-American art as a vehicle for resilience, which was one of the film’s themes. Cooper said, “African-American art aims to create a community. It creates a space for us to look at, to relate to a sorrow or a sadness we see, to see ourselves, and it creates a community for us to speak to and to converse with. These artists are directly creating dialogue.”

Abraham furthered the conversation, reminding the audience that, “Part of a community is asking for help when we need it and knowing when we need it.”

With the panelists speaking from their perspectives as an artist, a therapist, and a preacher, the discussion quickly turned into a reflective and analytical conversation not just among the panelists, but with the whole audience. People in the crowd were jumping into the conversation and sharing their own takes on the film, as well as their personal experiences.

In response to someone sharing their story and how the film impacted them, Selders said, “There’s a universality of this film. Can you see yourself in the different characters? Have you been the dad? Have you been the little boy or the little girl? The adult, remembering the trauma? The mom or dad who wants to make amends? I hope, as we are reflecting, we also begin to place ourselves within the context of our own journeys.”

During the closing remarks, Holloway apologized for running out of time, but wanted the audience to keep thinking about and discussing the film. “I encourage each and every one of you to continue the conversation,” Holloway said.

The Black History Month Committee at Trinity consists of members from the Asian American Student Association, Athletes of Color Coalition, Caribbean Students’ Association, IMANI Black Student Union, La Voz Latina, Men of Color Alliance, Muslim Students Association, Temple of Hip Hop, Trinity African Students Association, Trinity College Black Women’s Organization, Women and Gender Resource Action Center (WGRAC), with support from the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Trinity’s Black History Month culminates in “An Evening of Black Joy,” a closing celebration held in the Washington Room of Mather Hall on Friday, February 28, at 4 p.m.