Film and Discussion: Invisible Heroes: African-Americans in the Spanish Civil War

When

Thursday March 23, 2017: 6:30pm to 8:30pm  Add to Calendar /   Add to Google Calendar

Where

Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Description

Many know the endeavors of the Lincoln Brigade. In 1936 two thousand eight hundred North Americans volunteered with the International Brigades to defend the Republic of Spain, joining their struggle to about 50,000 other volunteers coming from 54 countries across the world. But what most do not know is that among the American volunteers there were eighty-five African Americans who also answered that call, fighting in Spain against racism and for the civil rights that were denied to them in their own country. This is their story, an unknown page of the USA and Spain's history.

"Invisible Heroes: African-Americans in the Spanish Civil War" presents the deeds of these invisible heroes who fought for their freedom in a far away war. Following the screening of the film, co-director Alfonso Domingo will lead a discussion of themes presented in the documentary.

Based on interviews with the veteran African American volunteer James Yates and the participation of other veterans of the Lincoln Brigade, the documentary also includes interviews with historians and experts from Spain and the US. Seldom seen archival footage and new recordings produced in the historical sites in Mississippi, Chicago, New York, and several locations in Spain are included.

This 2015 74-minute documentary is not rated.

This LSA Bicentennial Theme Semester event is presented with support from the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts and the University of Michigan Bicentennial Office. Additional support provided by the Department of History and the Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies.