Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Laemmle Monica Film Center, Santa Monica
More than 120 years after the publication of The Souls of Black Folk, Du Bois’ commentary on systemic racial discrimination and his concept of “double consciousness” stillresonate globally, inspiring leaders from the Harlem Renaissance to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The film explores Du Bois’ remarkable journey through his education and personal experiences, showing how he transcended the social constraints of the early 20th century to elevate the lives of Black people worldwide. Born just five years after the Emancipation Proclamation, he lived nearly a century, passing away in Ghana on the eve of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. As he continued to shape his vision for racial justice, he authored more than 20 books andblended scholarship with activism, using literature, data, and striking infographics to expose theroots of systemic racism. The film will illuminate his poetic writing through p erformances by Common, Courtney B. Vance, and Jeffrey Wright, with narration by Viola Davis. Du Bois co-founded the NAACP, helped launch the Niagara Movement, contributed to the founding of the United Nations, and challenged ideas of contemporaries like Booker T. Washington and Marcus Garvey. The documentary also explores his personal life, family relationships, struggles, and tragedies, such as the loss of his infant son, revealing the man behind the legend. Rebel with a Cause will give audiences a deeper understanding of Du Bois’ legacy and his prophetic declaration in The Souls of Black Folk: “The problem of the 20th century is the color line.”