A young black lesbian filmmaker probes into the life of The Watermelon Woman, a 1930s black actress who played 'mammy' archetypes.
Queer Coalition, Illinois State University’s LGBTQIA+ affinity group for faculty, staff, and graduate students, is excited to present In Her Image: A Film Series Celebrating Queer Women and The Stories They Tell. This special event will run from February 18 through March 19 at the historic Normal Theater, showcasing four independent films directed by and starring queer women. All screenings are free and open to the public.
The first feature film directed by a Black lesbian, The Watermelon Woman (1996) follows Cheryl Dunye as a video rental store clerk seeking to make a documentary about a 1930s Black actress credited only as “The Watermelon Woman.” The film will be introduced by Dr. Caitlin Mercier of the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program and Department of Psychology.
In Her Image is sponsored by Queer Coalition; Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program; School of Theatre, Dance, and Film; Department of Sociology and Anthropology; and Department of Psychology. If you need an accommodation to fully participate in this program please contact Queer Coalition at LGBTQ@IllinoisState.edu. Please allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.