''The Black Candle'' is a

documentary film A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

about

Kwanzaa Kwanzaa () is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called ''Karamu'', usually on the sixth day. It was created by activist Maulana Karenga based on African harvest fe ...

directed by M. K. Asante and narrated by

Maya Angelou Maya Angelou ( ; born Marguerite Annie Johnson; April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credi ...

. The film premiered on cable television on

Starz Starz (stylized in all caps as STARZ; pronounced "stars") is an American pay television network owned by Starz Entertainment, and is the flagship property of Starz Inc. Launched in 1994 as a multiplex service of what is now Starz Encore, ...

in November 2012.

Synopsis

''The Black Candle'' uses

as a vehicle to explore and celebrate the African-American experience. Narrated by the poet

and directed by author and filmmaker M. K. Asante, ''The Black Candle'' is about the struggle and triumph of African-American family, community, and culture. The documentary traces the holiday's growth out of the Black Power Movement in the 1960s to its present-day reality.

Reception

''Time'' magazine wrote "The first film about Kwanzaa, The Black Candle, narrated by Maya Angelou is fit for a poet." ''The Daily Voice'' wrote, "I predict that viewing The Black Candle will become an annual family tradition in homes around the world." The film won Best Full Length Documentary at the 2009 Africa World Documentary Film Festival. In December 2020, the

American Film Institute The American Film Institute (AFI) is an American nonprofit film organization that educates filmmakers and honors the heritage of the History of cinema in the United States, motion picture arts in the United States. AFI is supported by private fu ...

selected ''The Black Candle'' as a "holiday classic" and featured the film in ''AFI Movie Club Presents: Home for the Holidays'', "highlighting the very best of the holiday cinema".

References

External links

br>AFI Movie Club: THE BLACK CANDLE
* 2008 films Kwanzaa American documentary films American independent films Films set in Africa Documentary films about African Americans 2008 documentary films 2008 independent films Maya Angelou 2000s English-language films 2000s American films English-language documentary films English-language independent films {{2000s-US-film-stub