As part of Duke University's commemoration of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., director Charles Stone III will show clips from his films and discuss how King's legacy has shaped his work.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 13, in the Richard White Auditorium on Duke's East Campus.
Stone directed the films "Mr. 3000," about the lessons an aging baseball star (Bernie Mac) learns when he returns to the game; "Paid in Full," about the rise and fall of a drug dealer in Harlem; and "Drumline," about a talented drummer's quest to make a reputation in his college marching band.
Stone first gained wide recognition in 2000 for directing the Budweiser ads, based on his short film "True," with the emblematic "Whassup?!" greetings. He has also directed music videos for hip hoppers "A Tribe Called Quest," "Public Enemy" and "The Roots" and the rock band "Living Colour."
In his presentation "Race, Fantasy, Reality: Success in Black and White," Stone said he plans to highlight how his films are both entertaining and portraits of genuine relationships and personalities.
"There's a struggle and a challenge to define humanity in my work, and in other films of color, where humanity is displayed in its truest and most ordinary form," he said.
The presentation is part of Duke's 17th annual MLK celebration, Jan. 13-22, which is based on the theme "Call and Response: Listening, Learning and Living the Legacy."
Ben Reese Jr., vice president for institutional equity at Duke and one of the co-chairs of the university's MLK Celebration Committee, said Stone's success as a black man directing films not only exemplifies King's vision for equal opportunity, but themes from King's speeches are present in Stone's movies.
"Dr. King had such a gift for articulating concepts that connected seemingly opposing parties through a deep sense of joint humanity," Reese said. "I see that sense of common humanity in a film like "Drumline.' The characters, through a strong sense of identity based on history, gender and race, are able to bridge those differences.
"Charles' presentation could spur some tough and stimulating discussion about differences on campus and foster important bridge-building," he said.
Other MLK events, which are free and open to the public, include:
-- A service in Duke Chapel celebrating King's legacy at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, featuring a keynote address by entertainer and activist Harry Belafonte. Belafonte was a close friend and ally of King's during the Civil Rights Movement.
-- A series of "Freedom School" discussions on contemporary social issues, led by Duke President Richard H. Brodhead, professors, students and invited speakers, from 10:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16, in the BryanUniversityCenter's Von Canon rooms, with a breakfast at 10 a.m. The discussions are inspired by the Freedom Schools organized during the Civil Rights Movement. Topics include the fallout from Hurricane Katrina; the intersection of race, religion and public policy; the concept of white privilege; the application of civil rights to gays and lesbians; and social change in the tradition of Mahatma Gandhi.
-- A staged reading of the play "Speak Truth to Power: Voices from Beyond the Dark," written by Duke literature professor Ariel Dorfman and based on the book "Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders Who Are Changing Our World" by Kerry Kennedy Cuomo. The performance will take place in Reynolds Auditorium in the BryanUniversityCenter at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16. Discussion to follow.
For details and an updated calendar of events, call (919) 684-8030 or visit the 2006 Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration website.