African-American films come to life at Oakton lecture

Celebrate Black History Month by examining the trajectory of black cinema - from early 19th century works through the so-called "blaxploitation" era that arose in the 1970s, to films by current directors and producers at the free lecture Race Films and Beyond - from Oscar Micheaux to Tyler Perry, from 12:30-2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 19, at Oakton's Des Plaines campus, 1600 East Golf Road (Room 1610).

Pemon Rami, director of educational services and public programs at the DuSable Museum of African American History, explores the works of Lee Daniels, Spike Lee, Gordon Parks, Tyler Perry, Robert Townsend, and others. Chicago's first African-American film casting director, Rami has been involved in the development of TV shows, films (including "The Blues Brothers," "Cooley High" and "Mahogany"), music concerts, documentaries and plays. He directed more than 30 theatrical productions, such as "Madame Lily," starring Gladys Knight, and produced the feature film "Of Boys and Men," starring Angela Bassett. From 2012 to 2013, Rami served as an Illinois Humanities Council Road Scholar, and was recently selected as one of the Chicago Defender's 50 Men of Excellence.

The lecture is co-sponsored by Oakton's Office of Access, Equity, and Diversity; Student Life; the Black Student Union; and the Koehnline Museum of Art's current exhibition, Gems from the Koehnline: African-American Movie Posters.

For information contact Will Crawford, Oakton professor of English, at crawford@oakton.edu.

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