Culturally Speaking: Honouring Black Brilliance

Presented by the Black Heritage Committee

Join us this Black History Month for a moving evening of film screenings that celebrate Black brilliance across generations. The evening will share powerful films by Black filmmakers that explore real stories of resilience, culture, family, and vision. Each film offers a unique lens on Black life—past, present, and future.

Followed by a panel discussion with Brian Lanier speaking of the Lanier Family’s legacy, director Cheryl Foggo on the importance of building community in Black story-telling, and dynamic young filmmakers Kamika Guerra-Walker and Nenritji Suwa on their inspiration and journey for their films. The discussion will be moderated by the Black Heritage Committee’s Lana Bentley.

RSVPEvent Outline

Culturally Speaking: Honouring Black Brilliance

Program 

6:30 – Doors Open 

7:00 – Welcome and Intro 

 7:05pm 

• Title: Lanier Family Documentary- Descendants of Daniel & Beather Lanier 
• Length: 30 minutes 
• Synopsis: Documenting your family’s history ensures that younger and future generations understand where they come from. By knowing their lineage, struggles, challenges, and accomplishments, they can better understand what is possible for them—and their responsibility to carry the legacy forward. This short film is the second one done for the Lanier Family. The first talked about the 14 children of Jesse and Candace Lanier, who were born in Bath, NC, beginning in 1898 with the birth of William Henry Lanier. 
• Director: Dean Radcliff-Lynes  
  • Dean Radcliff-Lynes Biography: Dean brings over 30 years of experience in storytelling through filmmaking, non-profit video production, awards show production, media relations, stage management, and community engagement campaigns. She has collaborated with both Baltimore-based and national organizations, including the 400 Years of African American History Commission, Hearst Broadcasting, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Mayo Clinic, the National Returning Citizens Conference, My Brother’s Keeper Irvington, Healing Cities Baltimore, Baltimore Outreach Services, Out for Justice, the Job Opportunities Task Force, and Baltimore Center Stage. She is a graduate of the Yale University School of Drama and lives in Baltimore, MD. 

 7:40pm 

• Title: Finding My Way Back To You 
• Length: 11 minutes 
• Synopsis: At the age of six, Kamika’s father, Calvin, is diagnosed with Schizophrenia, corrupting her home life as she is legally unable to speak to him until the age of 18. The film follows her journey of how her life was affected and reconnection with her father. This short documentary combines expository and narrative elements to provide a personal/subjective perspective on the trials and tribulations faced when mental illness is prevalent in a Black family. 
• Director: Kamika Guerra-Walker 

• Title: Home Is Where… 
• Length: 5 minutes 
• Synopsis: In this short dramatic film, two friends support each other through another day of living on the streets. 
• Director: Kamika Guerra-Walker 

8:00pm 

• Title: The Invisible Monster 
• Length: 5 minutes 
• Synopsis: A young woman copes with the double monsters of the Covid 19 pandemic and the murder of George Floyd. (content Warning: includes mental health and discussion of racial violence) 
• Director: Nenritji Suwa 

• Title: Beyond February (trailer) 
• Length: 3 minutes 
• Synopsis: Nenritji Suwa shares a sneak peek at her documentary-in-process. Black Calgarians explore the question of what happens to Black History when the month ends. 
• Director: Nenritji Suwa 

8:10pm 

• Title: Shiloh: Exploring Saskatchewan’s Only Historic Black Settlement (trailer) 
• Length: 2 minutes 
• Synopsis: Filmmaker Cheryl Foggo offers a sneak peek of the Prairie-Place Ancestors’ journey into Saskatchewan’s Black History. 
• Director: Cheryl Foggo 

8:15pm: Panel 

• Brian Lanier, Nenritji Suwa, Kamika Guerra-Walker, and Cheryl Foggo.  Moderated by Black Heritage Committee member Lana Bentley. 

The Black Heritage Committee (BHC) is a group of community members who guide Heritage Park in strengthening representation, expanding historical narratives, and creating inclusive experiences that honour Black history past, present, and future. Formed in January 2025 and publicly launched in July 2025, the committee plays a vital role in ensuring the stories and contributions of Black people across the Prairies are meaningfully reflected throughout the Park. 

Guided by the pillars of Inclusion & Representation, Storytelling & Heritage, and Celebration & Connection, the committee works to highlight the legacies of Black individuals and communities whose contributions have long shaped Prairie history. Through ongoing collaboration, research, and community engagement, the Black Heritage Committee helps shape interpretive practices, exhibits, and programming so that Heritage Park more fully reflects the diversity of the region’s past and present. 

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Join us this Black History Month for a special day of film screenings that celebrate Black brilliance across generations.

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