
Celebrate Black History Month at MOPOP with a screening of Songs of Black Folk, a powerful short film honoring Black artistry, legacy, and cultural richness in the Pacific Northwest.
Songs of Black Folk follows musical director Ramón Bryant Braxton as he prepares a Juneteenth celebration featuring the largest gathering of Black musical talent on a single stage in the PNW, while giving voice to the untold legacy of his grandmother. At just under 30 minutes, the film showcases music as both record and resistance, marking an important era in American musical history.
Director Haley Watson is known for crafting films that illuminate the depth and complexity of the human experience. In June 2025, she premiered Songs of Black Folk—her second consecutive world premiere at the Tribeca Festival. Her 2024 debut at Tribeca, the short documentary Motorcycle Mary, was executive produced by Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and the double Academy Award–winning Breakwater Studios. The film was acquired by ESPN Films for its acclaimed 30 for 30 series and is currently nominated for an Emmy. Motorcycle Mary introduced Watson’s distinctive voice to a global audience. Earlier in her career, Watson originated the story concept for The Queen of Basketball, which went on to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject. She began her filmmaking journey in the camera department, earning recognition from AFI’s Cinematography Intensive for Women and the ASC Vision Mentorship Program.
Justin Emeka is an award-winning filmmaker from the Pacific Northwest with over 25 years of experience as a theater director. He is especially known for blending classical works with Black cultural expression. In 2022, he received a prestigious TV/Film Directing Fellowship from the Drama League of New York, expanding his creative vision into screen storytelling. His first two original short films, BIOLOGICAL and Six Winters Gone Still, have screened at festivals around the world, earning acclaim for their poetic visual language and emotional depth. Emeka brings a unique voice shaped by his background in theater, Capoeira Angola, and a lifelong commitment to telling stories that center Black resilience and beauty. He is a member of the Executive Board for the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC). Emeka is also a tenured professor of Theater and Africana Studies at Oberlin College, where he teaches directing, acting, and Capoeira.


























































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