On the 50th anniversary of the birth of the Black Panther Party in Oakland, California, you won’t find a more intimate and revealing history of that momentous period than Damani Baker’s The House on Coco Road, a portrait of the filmmaker’s mother, Fannie Haughton. A student and compatriot of Angela Davis, Haughton was a specialist in early childhood education and had her own place in the movement. During the Reagan presidency, when Oakland became overrun with drugs, Haughton made a bold move: She took her own kids, including Damani, to Grenada, to live in a truly revolutionary society. Then the United States invaded the island nation. With seeming ease, Baker coaxes out of the eloquent Ms. Haughton the thread that runs from her southern sharecropper ancestors to a life in California and, despite all, a view to utopia. The film’s score is by Meshell Ndegeocello.—Judy Bloch

The Institute for Policy Studies is excited to join up once again with the Washington, DC International Film Festival -also known as Film Fest DC- on the screening of The House on Coco Road. IPS Events Coordinator and Host of Voicecs With Vision on WPFW 89.3 FM, Netfa Freeman will MC the discussion with the filmmaker, Damani Baker that will be part of the April 25th screening:

Co-sponsors: Film Fest DC, Institute for Policy Studies, Pan-African Community Action (PACA), and Voices With Vision on WPFW 89.3.

• Saturday, April 22 8:45 PM – $13.00 – Advance Sales – $14.00 at the theater
• Tuesday, April 25 6:30 PM – $13.00 – Advance Sales – $14.00 at the theater