“Songs of Black Folk” unites top Black musical talent on one Pacific Northwest stage, launching a powerful new tradition and era for Black artists against the meaningful backdrop of Juneteenth.
This film is included in the Tribeca’s “Shorts: Embrace the Music” category, alongside four other works. Click here for full program and details.
This is a delightful and soul-stirring short that looks at the project of bringing the sounds, songs and soul of Black music to the Pacific Northwest. It is noted in the short, led by Pastor Leslie Braxton and his nephew Ramon Bryant Braxton, that the Seattle and Tacoma Washington areas are known musically for the late Jimi Hendrix—and business wise for Starbucks and Boeing.
But what about the music that the pastor says is the “soundtrack of our existence,” while Ramon urges us to “stay in the music, because it’s safe there.”
This short details the concert outlining their first Juneteenth celebration, when Ramon leaves New York to return back to Tacoma, and sadly his grandmother, an esteemed vocalist and church member is battling an illness—a fight that she ultimately loses.
Ramon is a Morehouse College grad who goes on to be an accomplished conductor. And this commitment to the tenets of Morehouse compelled him to come back home and share his talents.
“Songs of Black Folk” is not only an homage to the music of the Pacific Northwest area of the United States but also a dedication to his grandmother who also, according to the short, gave so much to her community.
I have included the announcement for this year’s concert.
Learn more here: https://tribecafilm.com/films/shorts-embrace-the-music-2025.
Elaine Hegwood Bowen, M.S.J., is the Entertainment Editor for the Chicago Crusader. She is a National Newspaper Publishers Association Entertainment Writing’ award winner, contributor to “Rust Belt Chicago” and the author of “Old School Adventures from Englewood: South Side of Chicago.” For info, Old School Adventures from Englewood-South Side of Chicago (lulu.com)