Independent filmmaker Danté James will screen clips from his documentaries on the black experience at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, in the Richard White Auditorium on Duke University's East Campus.
The presentation, called "America Exposed," is part of Duke's 18th annual Martin Luther King Jr. commemoration. The events are free and open to the public. For a complete list, see the Duke Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration website.
James has produced and directed documentaries for PBS on the Great Depression, opera singer Marian Anderson, labor organizer A. Philip Randolph, African-American spirituality and Lyndon Johnson's "war on poverty." His film "Slavery and The Making of America" won an Emmy award. He is currently an artist-in-residence at Duke's Center for Documentary Studies and an instructor in the Film/Video/Digital Program.
"What Dr. King did was he exposed America -- what was bad, what was good, what needed attention," James said. "I use my camera to expose racism, oppression, poverty, exploitation, but I also use my camera as a lens to showcase some of what is right about America -- freedom, opportunity, creativity."
"America is not all right; it's not all wrong. It's something that continues to evolve and change," James said. "By examining it through film and documenting it, we help in that evolution."
Also speaking at Duke as part of the MLK celebration is commentator and actress Nancy Giles. Giles will give her presentation, "The Struggle Makes You Stronger: Lessons Dr. King Taught Me," at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15, in the Reynolds Theater in the Bryan Center.
Giles performs one-woman shows that address social issues with humor. Her commentaries have appeared on "CBS Sunday Morning." She spent three years acting with the Second City improv troupe in Chicago and co-hosted the "Giles & Moriarity" talk radio show in Philadelphia. She has played supporting and guest roles in TV shows including "China Beach," "Spin City," "Law & Order" and "Fresh Prince."