The Class of 1989

The Class of 1989

In the 1980s, there were only 63 Black films by, for, or about Black Americans. But in the 1990s, that number quadrupled, with 220 Black films making their way to cinema screens nationwide. What sparked this “Black New Wave?” Who blazed this path for contemporaries like Ava DuVernay, Kasi Lemmons and Jordan Peele? And how did these films transform American culture as a whole? Presenting The Class of 1989, a new limited-run series from pop culture critics Len Webb and Vincent Williams, hosts of the acclaimed Black cinema podcast The Micheaux Mission. Each episode, Len and Vincent take us through the Black film renaissance of 1989 – a year of contradiction, controversy, and ultimate triumph for Black cinema – as they analyze the six films that left an indelible mark on the world: Harlem Nights, Lean on Me, Glory, A Dry White Season, Do the Right Thing and Driving Miss Daisy. Produced in collaboration with The Podglomerate.

Episodes

Introducing The Class of 1989

January 24, 2023 • 2 mins
In the 1980s, there were only 63 Black films by, for, or about Black Americans. But in the 1990s, that number quadrupled, with 220 Black films making their way to cinema screens nationwide. What sparked this “Black New Wave?” Who blazed this path for contemporaries like Ava DuVernay, Kasi Lemmons and Jordan Peele? And how did these films transform American culture as a whole? Presenting The Class of 1989, a new limited-run series f...
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S1. Ep. 0: The Class of '89 Syllabus

March 6, 2023 • 12 mins
Vincent Williams and Len Webb of the Micheaux Mission premiere their new series with a brief introduction to the six films they’ll study in their 6-part course: A Dry White Season, Do The Right Thing, Driving Miss Daisy, Glory, Harlem Nights and Lean On Me. Produced by the Podglomerate. For transcripts, please visit the website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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S1. Ep. 1: Ladies First and Last

March 13, 2023 • 34 mins
1989 was not the year of the Black woman in film. The Color Purple was one of the few feature films in the 80s that centered on Black women, and it wouldn't be until 1992 that a Black woman would get theatrical distribution directing a film about Black women. Just like Anita Hill is often credited for the 1992 election being deemed 'the year of the woman,' what seeds were planted in '89 that inspired or provoked Black women directo...
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S1. Ep. 2: Eddie and Spike - Brooklyn Be Brooklyn

March 20, 2023 • 31 mins
In 1989, Hollywood money magnet Eddie Murphy and indie film upstart Spike Lee both directed films that left their marks in Hollywood history. Many would see their positions in Hollywood and assume they are worlds apart, but the two men, children of the same generation, are very much in conversation cinematically. Produced by the Podglomerate. For transcripts, please visit the website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me...
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S1. Ep. 3: Commercial Race Theatre

March 27, 2023 • 39 mins
In our class, the big studio movies of 1989 are Glory and Driving Miss Daisy, which look at Black history, but very much from a white lens. This episode explores how Hollywood's ‘business-as-usual’ standards pale in comparison to Eddie Murphy's and Spike Lee's visions and how Black director Euzhan Palcy gets caught up in the mix. Produced by the Podglomerate. For transcripts, please visit the website here. Learn more about your ad ...
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