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Title
Still Black: A Portrait of Black Transmen
Director
Kortney Ryan ZieglerDate
2008Origin
United StatesDescription
In the past decade, independent cinema has seen an explosion of films that explore transgender issues. Many of those films, however, have elided issues of race in regard to trans communities of color. In light of this, STILL BLACK: A PORTRAIT OF BLACK TRANSMEN is a feature-length experimental documentary that explores the lives of six black transgender men living in the United States.
Through the intimate discussions of their lives as artists, students, husbands, fathers, lawyers, and teachers, the film challenges traditional notions of Black masculinity, sexuality, and identity.
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Presented as a collection of six short black-and-white films, each "mini-film" gives the impression of a one-on-one conversation with the character. The aesthetically provocative sections tell the personal stories of the men through multiple camera angles, experimental graphics, and an original trip-hop
score--each designed to supplement their individuality and personality.
This film does not claim to embody what it means to be Black, or transgender, or male. But what it does do is offer just a small piece of the larger experience of being a Black trans man. Most importantly, we hope that the stories in the film will inspire audience members to look beyond the negative portrayals and stereotypes of Black men that we are all bombarded with on a daily basis.