Events By Quarter
An Evening of Afro-Cuban Soukous Music: Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca
MCC THEATER
'Whether they're kicking out Cuban jams or taking afro-pop to the bridge, Lemvo and company will make you sweat.' – Time-Out New York
Ricardo Lemvo's innovative blend of Afro-Cuban rhythms and Pan-African styles have been described by The Los Angeles Times as “seamless and infectious.” Since forming Makina Loca in 1990, Lemvo has refined his craft and vision, performed songs that celebrate life, and inspired audiences to dance away their worries.
Tickets: $5 UCSB Students and Children Under 12 / $15 General. Buy tickets here.
Music: Samba Luku Samba / Le Rendez Vous
Cup of Culture
The Hand That Feeds
MCC THEATER
Behind the scenes in New York City’s eateries, undocumented immigrant workers confront sub-legal wages, dangerous machinery, and abusive managers. Previously uninterested in politics, sandwich-maker Mahoma López led a group of co-workers in a fight against these workplace conditions in January 2012. The ensuing power struggle turned a city block into a battlefield in America’s new wage wars. A Skype Q&A session with filmmakers Robin Blotnik and Rachel Lears will follow this “captivating David and Goliath story” (Indiewire). (88 min, English, 2014)
View: Trailer
Race & Religion
Beyond the Black Messiah: Black Lives & the Limits of Heroism
MCC LOUNGE
Dr. Neal explores the messianic legacies of the Civil Rights and Black Power eras and connects their historical lessons to the Black Lives Matter movement. One of the profound lessons taught by each movement is the significant reach of messianic heroism that, as a singular political morality, has also been limited in addressing the depths of race matters. This talk aims to unite contemporary political concerns with resources and insights from the not too distant past. Dr. Ronald B. Neal is Professor of Religion and Chair of the Black Cultures and the Study of Religion Committee at Wake Forest University.
Cup of Culture
By Blood
MCC THEATER
By Blood chronicles American Indians of African descent as they battle to regain tribal citizenship. Exploring the impact of this struggle which has developed into a broader conflict about race, identity, and the sovereign rights of indigenous people, the film addresses both sides of the issue, its shared emotional impact, and the rising urgency of the debate: a Native American and African American history has been overlooked, and a tribal body feels as though its sovereignty is under siege. (90 min, English, 2013)
View: Trailer
