Event description
Join in a series of events that highlight the history, memories and creativity of Montréal’s Black communities. From July 2 to 5, the MEM, in partnership with Cat’s Corner, will be offering extensive programming including screenings, discussions and gatherings where you can explore the stories that have shaped the city, with topics ranging from Little Burgundy and the thriving jazz scene to the roots of Lindy Hop. It’s a unique opportunity to discover inspiring life journeys, chat with experts and celebrate an ever-changing living cultural heritage.
Programming
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Screening of the documentary Show Girls (Meilan Lam, 1998, original version with French subtitles, 52 min.) followed by a discussion
Show Girls pays tribute to Montréal’s dynamic Black jazz scene, from the 1920s to the 1960s, at a time when the city was in full swing. Three women who danced in the legendary Black clubs of the time share their incredible memories of life in one of the world’s most fashionable jazz hotspots. Their stories are interwoven with the fascinating social and political history that made Montréal a jazz and nightlife destination for decades. A history of song and dance, of music and pride.
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Screening of the documentary Restorative Culture: Johnathan Morin (Travis Knights, 2021, original version with French subtitles, 75 min.)
Restorative Culture, by Montréal-born Travis Knights, is a documentary about a journey toward self-discovery. The film follows Johnathan Morin as he explores his love of tap — an African American vernacular dance — and his yearning to better understand the Nehiyaw heritage of his family in Alberta. The screening will be followed by a discussion with Johnathan Morin, moderated by J.Styles (Mukoma-K. Nshinga).
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Meeting with Lindy Hop elders Sugar Sullivan, Barbara Billups and Suzanne Bruneau
This year, the International Lindy Hop Championships will be held in Montréal for the first time in their history! This event seeks to honour the legacy of the dancers who created this social, liberating dance in the 1920s in Harlem, New York. Come and enjoy inspiring and enlightening conversations with those who had the good fortune dance at the dawn of this cultural revolution.
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Screening of the documentary Dear Jackie (Henri Pardo, 2021, original version with French subtitles, 90 min.)
Montréal is a place where people and cultures come together. The city is a patchwork of neighbourhoods with very diverse histories. Baseball legend Jackie Robinson’s short stay in Montréal is the starting point for this documentary about Little Burgundy. Henri Pardo talks to residents to better understand the neighbourhood’s rich human tapestry and current issues faced by Montréal’s first Black community.
To learn more about the Cat’s Corner community