James Hemings: Ghost in America’s Kitchen Showing Feb. 12 as Part of the African American Film Series in Flint
February 12 @ 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Get ready to celebrate African American Art and Culture through cinematic excellence! Join us on November 13, Dec. 18, Jan. 15, 2026; and Feb. 12, 2026 for Communities First, Inc.’s 11th Annual African American Film Series.
The event is FREE, but a $5 donation is requested. Please register at https://tinyurl.com/AAFS2025
Enjoy dinner, live music starting at 5:30pm. Followed by the movie starting at 6:45pm with a discussion panel following the film.
Each screening of this four-part movie series will take place at the Flint Institute of Arts, 1120 E. Kearsley St., Flint MI 48503.
The Series Lineup:
November 13 – The Fire Inside – The Fire Inside is the inspirational true story of Claressa Shields, arguably the greatest female boxer of all time. A high school Junior from Flint, Michigan, aided by her tough-love coach, Jason Crutchfield, pushes past all limitations to become the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing. But even at the pinnacle of success, Claressa has to reckon with the fact that not all dreams are created equal, and the real fight has only just begun.
December 18 – Sing Sing – A man named Divine G finds himself at Sing Sing, a notorious men’s prison, after being convicted guilty of a crime he did not commit. Struggling with his wrongful incarceration, he finds solace in the prison’s ragtag theatre troupe, where the opportunity for self-expression helps Divine and the other inmates find purpose, empathy, camaraderie, and strength. The narrative draws inspiration from true events.
January 15, 2026 – Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power – The documentary focuses on the rise of citizen-led voting rights campaigns in Lowndes County, Alabama. A Black-majority town with no Black voters, Lowndes County consequently transformed into a hotspot for activist movements. Organizers of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) collaborated with local residents to take a stand against racial violence in the late sixties.
February 12, 2026 – James Hemings: Ghost in America’s Kitchen – A curious chef uncovers the story of James Hemings – America’s culinary founding father and the enslaved property of Thomas Jefferson.
Doors open at 5:30pm for a reception with live entertainment, refreshments and gallery tours, movie begins at 6:45pm and a discussion panel follows the film. There is a suggested donation of $5 per person for reception with live entertainment and refreshments.
The event is FREE, but a $5 donation is requested register at https://tinyurl.com/AAFS2025
Thank you to our sponsors: Dee Cramer; Fifth Third Bank; Flint Institute of Arts; Mid-Michigan NOW; Consumers Energy; Sherwin-Williams; Larry and Mrs. Carol Young; Glenn and Essence Wilson; Ira Rutherford III; Gamma Delta Boulé of Sigma Pi Phi; Kyle McCree and Camille Koger-McCree; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Flint Alumnae Chapter; Tom and Mrs. Linda Belford; Genesee Packaging; Mass Transportation Authority; and Flint Area Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.
