IN CINEMA
Tuesday, May 27th at 7PM
LIVING PROOF: DR. KHALID'S BLACK HISTORY MOBILE MUSEUM
Tony Wesley, 2024
Made You Look: H2O (Hip-Hop Odyssey)
LIVING PROOF: DR. KHALID'S BLACK HISTORY MOBILE MUSEUM is a short documentary centered on the development of the first mobile museum dedicated to Black history and the legacy of Dr. Khalid El-Hakim aka Dr. Khalid. Dr. Khalid has collected of over 10,000 original and rare artifacts of Black memorabilia dating from the trans-Atlantic slave trade era to Hip-Hop culture. He has been called the "Schomburg of the Hip-Hop generation" and has received national and international attention for his innovative work of exhibiting Black history outside of traditional museum spaces. He has embarked on a journey that spans 43 states, disseminating "our story" to more than 1,000 institutions. Dr. Khalid has also worked for over twenty years in the Hip-Hop industry as a manager and booking agent for artists such as The Last Poets, Proof of D12, Jessica Care Moore, and Professor Griff of Public Enemy. LIVING PROOF documents the difficult journey Dr. Khalid faced to recover artifacts, enter unfriendly communities, and coping with grief. This is an inspirational story of fearlessness, resilience, and living proof that Black history matters.
BIO: Dr. Khalid el-Hakim
Dr. Khalid el-Hakim is the founder and curator of the Black History 101 Mobile Museum, a collection of over 15,000 original artifacts of Black memorabilia dating from the trans-Atlantic slave trade era to hip-hop culture. His work builds upon the legacy of the Black Museum Movement, a tradition that dates back to the early 20th century with institutions such as the Hampton University Museum (1868), the DuSable Museum of African American History (1961), and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (1925). These institutions were born out of necessity as Black scholars, artists, and activists recognized the critical need to preserve and control the narrative of Black history in a country that often erased or misrepresented it.
A dedicated educator, Dr. el-Hakim taught middle school social studies in Detroit for 15 years and is the founder of the Michigan Hip Hop Archive at the Lewis Walker Center on the campus of Western Michigan University. His work is a continuation of the long struggle for historical preservation and education championed by Black museum pioneers, ensuring that future generations have access to tangible pieces of history that shape their identity and inspire their future.
BIO: Tony Wesley aka Mr. Wave
Tony Wesley aka Mr. Wave was born and raised in Hip-Hop's birthplace the Boogie Down Bronx. As a child, Tony spent years searching for his “place in life”. He would find himself through the art of dance and was inspired by the late Michael Jackson. Tony dropped out of high school to pursue his passion and gift as a dancer while he lived in a group home, fought drug dealers, and survived gang violence. As he progressed, a new style of dance—b-boying and breakdance— emerged. He began to add his personal twist to the dance form, and became known around the community as Dr. Electric because of his seemingly electrifying body movements. In 1983, he became a member of the B-Boy group, The New York City Breakers, and changed his name to "Mr. Wave". The popular dancer Kid Nice fell in love with Tony’s unique style of dance and suggested he perform at a nationally televised event—the 1983 CBS Kennedy Center Honors. He was later invited by Harry Belafonte to appear in the "Beat Street" movie, and was asked by three presidents to dance in the White House. Mr. Wave’s innovative style of dance and ability to withstand the test of time has cemented him as a living legend of dance. Recognizing the impact that sharing his story and struggles had on his young audiences, Wave launched the I Am That Kid Foundation as platform to offer free dance classes and motivational seminars for the next generation of Hip-Hop. After working on his own documentary titled, "Wave: A True Story in Hip-Hop" with Director Brian Bullock, Mr. Wave realized that his storytelling skills could help other Hip-Hop pioneers who felt they were being erased from history tell their story. Mr. Wave launched Reel Sung Productions in 2019 and has been working on six documentaries including the autobiography of Special K of the Treacherous Three, Sparky D, and DJ Yella of NWA. "Living Proof" is the first documentary to be completed.
Director Statement:
As a dancer, I embody my history and share my story with audiences for a brief moment. When I discovered the art of documentary filmmaking, I learned to use my writing skills and voice to make a long-lasting impact beyond my existence. My goal is to inspire and tell stories that connect with people, and ultimately heal them. More than ever, we need understanding and empathy. The visual medium of filmmaking not only captures deep emotions that resonate with people, it evokes action and social change. — Tony Wesley
Tickets: $15 General Admission / $7 Reduced Price
