BLACK HISTORY MONTH: AWARD-WINNING FILM REVEALING UNKNOWN CIVIL RIGHTS MILESTONE MAKES PHILADELPHIA PREMIERE
January 15, 2025
Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History Hosts Black History Month Screening of “Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round” by Philadelphia Filmmaker
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (January 15, 2024) – The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History (The Weitzman) will host the regional premiere of Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round an acclaimed documentary by Emmy-award-winning filmmaker Ilana Trachtman, on Tuesday, February 6, 2024.
Center City Philadelphia-based Director Ilana Trachtman (Praying with Lior, Mariachi High, Black in Latin America) will attend the screening and participate in a live talkback and audience Q&A.
The film recounts a watershed moment in American history: the first time Black civil rights activists were joined by an organized white community – predominantly Jewish – to protest segregation. Together, they protested segregation at Washington, D.C.’s Glen Echo Amusement Park in 1960, challenging racism in a historic demonstration that drew national attention and paved the way for future collaborations in the fight for equality.
Featuring rare archival footage, immersive storytelling, and narration by Jeffrey Wright, Mandy Patinkin, Dominique Thorne, and others, Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round captures the enduring spirit of the civil rights movement and message of allyship.
Quickly becoming a lightning rod for heartfelt dialogue between the Black and Jewish communities, this powerful film has been embraced with enthusiasm across diverse audiences and is inspiring new conversations about civil rights and allyship.
A film festival favorite, Ain’t No Back has been a rare sell-out success across mainstream, Black, and Jewish film festivals. The documentary has earned numerous accolades, including the Audience Award at the Boston Jewish Film Festival, Best Documentary Feature at the DC Black Film Festival, and the Women In Film Award at the St. Louis International Film Festival.
More information and a two minute teaser, at aintnoback.com.
ABOUT THE WEITZMAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY
Established in 1976, and situated on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History is the only museum in the nation dedicated exclusively to exploring and interpreting the American Jewish experience. The Weitzman presents educational programs and experiences that preserve, explore, and celebrate the history of Jews in America. Standing as a joyful bulwark against antisemitism, bigotry, and hate, The Weitzman serves to connect Jews more closely to their heritage and to inspire in people of all backgrounds a greater appreciation for the diversity of the American Jewish experience and the freedoms to which Americans aspire. www.theweitzman.org
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