Dialogue: Director Rita Coburn in attendance for a post-screening Q&A.
Saturday, May 2, 2:00 p.m. | More than 120 years after the publication of The Souls of Black Folk, Du Bois’ commentary on systemic racial discrimination and his concept of “double consciousness” still resonate globally, inspiring leaders from the Harlem Renaissance to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The film explores Du Bois’ remarkable journey through his education and personal experiences, showing how he transcended the social constraints of the early 20th century to elevate the lives of Black people worldwide. Born just five years after the Emancipation Proclamation, he lived nearly a century, passing away in Ghana on the eve of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
As he continued to shape his vision for racial justice, he authored more than 20 books and blended scholarship with activism, using literature, data, and striking infographics to expose the roots of systemic racism. The film will illuminate his poetic writing through performances by Common, Courtney B. Vance, and Jeffrey Wright, with narration by Viola Davis. Du Bois co-founded the NAACP, helped launch the Niagara Movement, contributed to the founding of the United Nations, and challenged ideas of contemporaries like Booker T. Washington and Marcus Garvey.
The documentary also explores his personal life, family relationships, struggles, and tragedies, such as the loss of his infant son, revealing the man behind the legend. Rebel with a Cause will give audiences a deeper understanding of Du Bois’ legacy and his prophetic declaration in The Souls of Black Folk: “The problem of the 20th century is the color line.”
Dialogue: Post-screening Q&A with Director Rita Coburn and Gerald Griifin, artist, owner of Gerald Griffin Gallery, and Aldon Morris Professor Emeritus Northwestern University. Moderated by actor, playwright, and Black Perspectives co-chair Regina Taylor.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, Black Perspectives is a signature program of Cinema/Chicago and the Chicago International Film Festival, honoring the depth and global impact of Black cinema. Since 1997, the program has championed Black-American cinema and films by the African Diaspora around the world—spotlighting bold new voices, honoring visionary artists, and creating space for insightful dialogue through film.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu