Commemorating Black Filmmakers

SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local Board member Dawnn Lewis was among 30 black leaders from the entertainment industry honored for their contributions to cinema, culture and the nation at the Blacks in Cinema presentation held at the Los Angeles City Hall on Feb. 5. Organized by L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson, the awards accompany a monthlong exhibit for African-American History Month that pays homage to 1970s film and television, an era following the turbulent 1960s and civil rights struggle, in which black filmmakers began to make their presence known in Hollywood. The exhibit spotlights TV shows of the era that featured a primarily black cast as well as the Black Stuntmen and Women’s Association and the Pan African Film Festival.

Photo: Dawnn Lewis reflects on her experience in the industry and as a trailblazer at the Blacks in Cinema exhibit and presentation, alongside L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson at Los Angeles City Hall on Feb. 5.