She has brought a unique perspective to bear upon the story of. Black atheists, gender politics, and the values wars 2011, and imagining transit. White nights, black paradise kindle edition by sikivu, hutchinson. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. White nights, black paradise by sikivu hutchinson goodreads. A religious utopia turned nightmare their emigration to jonestown in guyana, south american represents another leg of the african diaspora, but this time black bodies are stolen and killed not by the hands of white slave hunters, but rather by a religious rhetoric that pimps and profits on the racial, economic. Mar 24, 2020 on november 18, 1978, more than 900 people, the majority of them african american women, died in a mass suicidemurder at the peoples temple settlement in jonestown, guyana. Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it attributed to philosopher george santayana posted over the stage at the peoples temple agricultural project in jonestown, guyana.
She has brought a unique perspective to bear upon the story of jim jones, the people. White nights, black paradise sikivu hutchinson infidel books, paper 325 pp, 2015. Casting multigenerational black actresses posted on june 4, 2016 by blackskeptics were currently casting for a short film treatment of white nights, black paradise in the l. In an era of increasing religious division in, and religious influence on, american culture, white nights, black paradise centers black lives in a gripping story of triumph and tragedy that rocked the globe. Fatally bonded by fear of racist annihilation, the communitys greatest symbol of crisis was the white night. Based on the novel by sikivu hutchinson, white nights, black paradise explores the relationships, moral dilemmas and politics of a multigenerational group of african american women who emigrated to jonestown. Full cast reading with tiffany coty, quonta beasley, dionne neish, camille. A showcase and community discussion on the legacy of black women and the african american community in peoples temple and jonestown the new historical stage play, white nights, black paradise, by l. In the authors capable hands, jim jones charm oozes off the page, and the reader can imagine how a smoothtalking preacher could get the attention of desperate believers seeking social justice. Sikivu hutchinsons new novel, white nights, black paradise, seeks to answer these questions. Unapologetically black, feminist, and heretical and the playwebseries narcolepsy, inc. Brook banks, the layaway dragon runs fri, nov 30 sun, dec 02 fri, sat 8pm sunday 3pm show calendar. White nights, black paradise is an extraordinary account, albeit fictional, of an infinitely fascinating turn of events that defies explanation. Abbreviated cast taryn strayer, an african american accountant in her late 30s.
Phenomenal discussion at sfs museum of the african diaspora premiere screening of white nights, black paradise with leslie wagnerwilson, jordan vilchez, yulanda williams and rebecca moore. White nights, black paradise by sikivu hutchinson, paperback. White nights, black paradise makes its transition to the. The whitest of white stalking the joint, out in the street for. White nights, black paradise is a historical fictionization of the jim jones cult, based on interviews with people who were survivors or knew people in the cult. Overall, sikivu hutchinsons white nights, black paradise is an extraordinary work of fiction fused with a factual social context, layered characters. White nights, black paradise explores the interlocking relationships, moral dilemmas and radical politics of a multigenerational group of african american women who emigrated to jonestown in search of selfdetermination and racial utopia.
Dec 06, 2018 sikivu hutchinsons white nights, black paradise, the saga of two sisters, set against the tragic mass suicidemurders of 912 members of jim jones peoples church in south america, is lacking in all of the above. It locates the peoples temple and jonestown in the shadow of the civil rights movement, black power, secondwave feminism and the second great migration. White nights, black paradise was first workshopped at the robey theater playwright workshop, where sikivu finetuned her dialog and story until she. A black and white night is a 1988 cinemax television special originally broadcast on january 3, 1988, starring triple hall of fame inductee rock and roll hall of fame, nashville songwriters hall of fame and songwriters hall of fame rockpop singersongwriter roy orbison and backing band tcb band with special guests including bruce springsteen, k. Museum of the african diaspora panel on black women, peoples temple and jonestown leslie wagner wilson on escape from jonestown white nights, black paradise film trailer. It looks like we dont have a synopsis for this title yet. It locates peoples temple and jonestown in the shadow of the civil rights movement, black power, second wave feminism and the great migration. White nights, black paradise comes to the hudson theatre in novemberdecember san francisco, 1975. White nights, black paradise, a play runs from november 30 friday to december 1, 2018 saturday, with performances at 8 p. Last year, sikivu hutchinson wrote a book called white nights, black paradise, and ever since she has been hard at work on turning the book into a film. Hy strayer taryns younger sister, sharp, irreverent but slightly unfocused. S ikivu hutchinson has made a truly impressive fiction debut with her first novel, white nights, black paradise.
White nights, black paradise is a riveting story of complicity and resistance. For the first time in filmfiction history, white nights, black paradise explores the interlocking relationships, moral dilemmas and radical politics. It was a great learning experience and insight for me. The title white nights, black paradise is drawn from two metaphors. White nights, black paradise infidel books, 2015 focuses on three fictional black women who are part of the peoples temple movement but. Exploring black womens voices in peoples temple and jonestown. White nights, black paradise a screening and discussion.
Sikivu hutchinson is the author of the novel, short film and play white nights, black paradise, the forthcoming book humanists in the hood. Nov 25, 2018 white nights, black paradise helps explain the appeal of jim jones and the peoples temple, which reached out to the disenfranchised, to those suffering due to the social economic issues, job discrimination, and to those experiencing an urban renewal movement, which was seen by many as an excuse to rip people from their homes. The phrase white night signified a state of siege and persecution jonestown rallied around to protect itself from white. My new novel, white nights, black paradise, is the first to focus on the black women of peoples temple church and the 1978 jonestown massacre. For the first time in filmfiction history, white nights, black paradise explores the interlocking relationships, moral. Staged reading of the play adaptation white nights, black paradise, on black women, peoples temple and the 1978 jonestown massacre based on the 2015 novel by sikivu hutchinson. Noted academic, author, and playwright sikivu hutchinson mounted a theatrical reading of her acclaimed 2015 novel white nights, black paradise, at the zephyr theatre on melrose ave. Until i read this book, i never heard of the historical events that are protrayed throughout this story. White nights, black paradise makes its transition to. White nights, black paradise hollywood progressive. Somehow hutchinson manages to place it all in some kind of reasonable perspective. White nights, black paradise trailer from sikivu hutchinson on vimeo. I have to say, that i found this novel highly intriuguing. White nights, black paradise, the play black cultural events.
White nights, black paradise makes for poor theatre, rueful. Aug 09, 2014 white nights, black paradise is a riveting story of complicity and resistance. For the first time in filmfiction history, white nights, black paradise explores the interlocking relationships, moral dilemmas. Staged reading of the play adaptation white nights, black paradise, based on the acclaimed 2015 novel by sikivu hutchinson.
Jun 08, 2016 white nights, black paradise is a delight and, more importantly, an awesome representation of women of color, whose stories and voices are often devalued or erased, even in the darkest of times. In the production white nights, black paradise, which closed this past sunday at the hudson theatre, playwright sikivu hutchinson starts with the arrival of two african american sisters. In 1978, peoples temple, a progressive, black multiracial church, selfdestructed in a guyana settlement named after its founder, the reverend jim jones. White nights, black paradise hudson mainstage theatre. Black women, resistance and religion in peoples templejonestown. The hudson mainstage theatre is located at 6539 santa monica blvd. White nights, black paradise book club and galentines. On november 18, 1978, more than 900 people, the majority of them african american women, died in a mass suicidemurder at the peoples temple. White nights, black paradise film screening crcc event. White nights, black paradise makes for poor theatre. White nights, black paradise, first africanamerican novel to. The new historical stage play, white nights, black paradise, by l. It is the first literary, theatrical production to foreground the lived experiences and social history of african american women members of jonestown and. With aba arthur, allison blaize, tiffany coty, robbie danzie.
White nights, black paradise, first africanamerican novel. For the first time in filmfiction history, white nights, black paradise explores the interlocking relationships, moral dilemmas and radical politics of a multigenerational group of african american women who emigrated to jonestown in search of selfdetermination and racial utopia. White nights, black paradise 2016 plot summary imdb. On november 18, 1978, more than 900 people, the majority of them african american women, died in a mass suicidemurder at the peoples temple settlement in jonestown, guyana. In 1978, peoples temple, a progressive, black multiracial church, selfdestructed in a guyana settlement named after its leader, the reverend jim jones.
The women in their white pearls and pressed gloves, the men dressed to the nines in suits and ties, beat down to a steaming pulp after a long day at the office, wraiths fastening. White nights, black paradise is a riveting story of complicity and resistance, loyalty and betrayal, black struggle and black sacrifice. Sikivu hutchinsons new novel white nights, black paradise is a provocative and eyeopening piece of historical fiction that captures a dark moment in time and gives a voice to the black women whose heartwrenching stories were lost amidst tragedy hutchinson meticulously weaves true life events with an analysis of religious, racial, and gender dynamics. On november 18, 1978, more than 900 people died in a mass suicidemurder at the peoples temple settlement in jonestown, guyana.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading white nights, black paradise. It is also the first to fully contextualize peoples temple and jonestown within the context of racial and gender politics and the decline of the civil rights movement and black power. Charlie manson and his family provide the historical backdrop for emma clines first novel, the girls, just published with. White nights frontin 1978, peoples temple, a black multiracial church once at the forefront of progressive san francisco politics, selfdestructed in a guyana jungle settlement named after its leader, the reverend jim jones. The humanities for all project grant is a competitive grant program of california humanities which supports locallydeveloped projects that respond to the needs. For the first time in filmfiction history, white nights, black paradise explores the interlocking relationships, moral dilemmas and radical politics of a multigenerational group of african. White nights, black paradise kindle edition by sikivu. Join us for a screening and discussion with the cast. Mar 26, 2016 the title white nights, black paradise is drawn from two metaphors. Specifically, jim jones was providing black women with a way to make a difference.
Museum of the african diaspora and california historical society present white nights, black paradise a screening and discussion on black women, peoples temple and jonestown on november 18, 1978, more than 900 people died in a mass murdersuicide at the peoples temple settlement in jonestown, g. White nights, black paradise new novel on jonestown by tfw. It is the first literary, theatrical production to foreground the lived experiences and social history of. White nights, black paradise play reading, part 1 youtube. Oct 10, 2018 white nights, black paradise comes to the hudson theatre in novemberdecember san francisco, 1975.
Nov 11, 2016 for the first time in filmfiction history, white nights, black paradise explores the interlocking relationships, moral dilemmas and radical politics of a multigenerational group of african. In 1978, peoples temple, a black multiracial church on. Her first novel, white nights, black paradise, is about one of the most disturbing chapters in africanamerican history. White nights, black paradise by sikivu hutchinson african. Her first novel, white nights, black paradise, is about one of the most disturbing chapters in africanamerican history, the story of the peoples. Nov 17, 2016 on november 18, 1978, more than 900 people died in a mass suicidemurder at the peoples temple settlement in jonestown, guyana. Until i read this book, i never heard of the historical events that. Sikivu hutchinson is an american feminist, novelist, playwright and director.
White nights, black paradise makes its transition to the stage at the zephyr theatre gregg reese 1182018, 5. She does so without judgment, moralizing, or telegraphing to the reader what to think. If youre interested in screening the film, it will debut on november 17th at the university of southern california. Mar 01, 2016 white nights, black paradise is a riveting story of complicity and resistance, loyalty and betrayal, black struggle and black sacrifice. She is the author of white nights, black paradise 2015, godless americana. For information and reservations, call 3233049578 or go online. For the first time in filmfiction history, white nights, black paradise explores the interlocking relationships, moral dilemmas and radical politics of a. White nights, black paradise moad museum of african diaspora. Were currently casting for a short film treatment of white nights, black paradise in the l. Dec 29, 2015 s ikivu hutchinson has made a truly impressive fiction debut with her first novel, white nights, black paradise. Jul 19, 2019 based on the 2015 novel, white nights, black paradise is a historical stage play which traces the thirtyyear history of the peoples temple, culminating in the november 1978 jonestown, guyana massacre, through the interlocking stories of african american women characters, against the historical backdrop of the great migration, the rise and fall. White nights, black paradise, the play receives california.