Vote, It Ain’t Illegal Yet! honors the 50th anniversary of the landmark Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965 with a moving and exciting combination of film, music, and spoken word at the Prospect Park Bandshell.
Directed by author/filmmaker/journalist and longtime Fort Greene resident Nelson George, this special BRIC commission honors the 50th anniversary of the landmark Voting Rights Acts of 1965 with a moving and exciting combination of film, music, and spoken word. This ambitious exploration of American polls yesterday and today celebrates and recognizes the journey we have collectively undertaken towards equality at the voting booth—and the distance we have left to travel. Vote, It Ain’t Illegal Yet! will include contributions by BURNING SPEAR, VERNON REID, MAYA AZUCENA, ROGER GUENVEUR SMITH, CARL HANCOCK RUX, ROSARIO DAWSON, RAMYA RAMANA, and many more. With musical direction by D-NICE.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
With the goal of honest, holistic, and poetic journalism in mind, Celebrate Brooklyn! is asking YOU to contribute your story to this project. When and where was your first time at the booth? Have you ever come up against barriers to voting? Did you or your parents have a different experience before 1964? Whatever your experience has been as an American voter, we would be honored to include it in the evening’s film and spoken word processions. All forms of expression are accepted: photographs, video (maximum 90 seconds), written testimonials, audio reenactments, etc. Be creative! And you just may see your work come to life next summer on our stage.
To submit:
- Download, fill out, and sign this release form
- Go to dbinbox.com/cb_vote_project
- Upload both the signed release and your submissions by dragging files to upload. There is a 50MB limit.
- For video files, you may also upload to Vimeo and send the URL and password to [email protected]
Not sure what to submit? Answer these questions:
- What’s your first memory of voting?
- When was the first time you voted?
- Do you know anything about the 1964 and 1965 Civil rights and Voting rights acts? If so what?
- Why is voting important?
- Are you aware of the many state laws across the country designed to limit the right to vote?
- Why do you think they are becoming wide spread?
- If you don’t vote why not?