Black Music as Resistance
BlackStar Film Festival 2025
Saturday, August 2, 2025, 5:30pm ET
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Daily Jawn Stage
300 S Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Co-presented by Firelight Media’s Beyond Resilience Series
With Stanley Nelson, Christine Turner, Elegance Bratton, and Joseph Patel, moderated by DJ Lynnée Denise

Black music has always been a tool of resistance — pushing against societal norms, reshaping cultural expectations and amplifying the voices of those demanding change. This panel explores the deep connection between Black musical innovation and acts of defiance, from funk’s rejection of rigid structures in the 1960s and 1970s to Sun Ra’s refusal to be confined by genre. Along the way, we’ll examine films that capture funk’s political power and cultural legacy, revealing how cinema has helped preserve and amplify its revolutionary spirit. Join us for a powerful conversation on how Black artists have challenged limitations and, in doing so, created timeless movements of sonic and social revolution.