Most of the Traces team went to see The Black List this evening. An out-of-competition documentary of interviews with 20 influential African Americans, this collaboration between portrait photographer (and now film director) Timothy Greenfield-Sanders and interviewer Elvis Mitchell is captivating, enlightening, and inspirational. It features Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Colin Powell, Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, Vernon Jordan, museum curator Thelma Golden, and Reverend Al Sharpton, among others.

Lou Gossett, Jr. tells about not receiving a phone call for a year and a half after receiving the Oscar in 1982. Chris Rock says true equality will be reached when black people can “suck” just as badly as white people and still be accepted. Nobel Prize winning author Toni Morrison brought me to tears when she explained the significance of her being a writer.

This film will be shown on HBO at some point. It may have a theatrical run. It will definitely show up on DVD. The Black List is amazing and beautiful. When you get the chance, don’t miss it.