In an interview, the musician and first-time director talks about his Oscar-nominated documentary—and how the events around the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival parallel today
For six weeks during the summer of 1969, some 300,000 people flocked to Mount Morris Park in New York City for the Harlem Cultural Festival. With its star power and rapt crowds, the musical event rivalled Woodstock, the four-day affair that was held one hundred miles north later that summer. But the Harlem festival, featuring legends like Stevie Wonder and Nina Simone, has largely been forgotten—and its role as a defining American cultural experience long overlooked.
and the struggle of African Americans in the United States because it humanizes us, and it makes us relatable. Harlem Cultural Festival is just an awesome look at beautiful people having fun, having their joy in a way that you’ve never seen anyone from this era look.There is Black history that has been erased or buried, and there are these efforts to restore history.
Around 1972-73, Hal Tulchin [the Harlem festival producer who made the original footage] wanted to clearly explain to his distributors that look, you remember Woodstock and how magical that was, right? Well, I have something magical right here, too, and it’s the Black version, Black Woodstock. So our film got tagged Black Woodstock.
Maybe three weeks after the movie comes out, suddenly, my emails and my DMs all had the same tone to it: Hey Questlove, I don’t know if you know this, but in 1974, we had Isley Brothers and da da da da da da da, naming all these acts performing at this particular park and da da da da. And we got about 17 hours on film. But it’s been sitting in our college library for decades and I don’t know, maybe you’d be interested in this.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'King Richard' screenwriter, a Delaware native, up for first Oscar'I said, I would love to write this movie. I think I could, I think I could nail it, and here's what I would do,' said Zach Baylin.
Read more »
Pennsylvania native, husband earn Oscar nod for documentaryElizabeth Mirzaei created 'Three Songs for Benzair,' along with her Afghan-born husband Gulistan. The documentary is a love story set in a camp for displaced people in Kabul.
Read more »
Bringing the Realities of Ukraine to the Red Carpet on Oscar NightSigns of support for the Ukrainian people impacted by the Russian invasion will be shown at Sunday’s Oscars.
Read more »
Halle Berry: My historic 2002 Oscar win ‘didn’t open the door’ for black actressesHalle Berry won best Actress for her role in the drama “Monster’s Ball” 20 years ago.
Read more »
Best Oscar sci-fi movie soundtracks, rankedThese sensational science fiction film scores are truly music to our ears and deserve their place in Oscar sci-fi movie soundtracks history.
Read more »
What the Oscar Nominees Have Lined Up Next for Film and TV ProjectsOlivia Colman heads to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ariana DeBose will topline a spy thriller at Apple while Denzel Washington goes behind the camera as contenders plan their follow-up projects.
Read more »