Classic Black Cinema Series: Scott Joplin

A sweeping biographical drama about Scott Joplin, the pioneering African American composer and pianist who rose to become the most celebrated figure in ragtime history. Featuring powerful performances by Billy Dee Williams, Margaret Avery, and Clifton Davis, the film brings to life the passion and perseverance behind Joplin's music.

This classic drama traces Joplin's triumphs and struggles. From his move to Missouri in the late nineteenth century to pursue work as a piano teacher, to his emergence as a groundbreaking and widely celebrated ragtime composer whose music would leave a lasting mark on American culture.

Don't miss your chance to revisit or discover this classic film from 1977 in a vibrant and culturally rich setting!

Specifically designed to expose the community to the vast artistic value of Black film over the years, the film series aims to appeal to as diverse a population as possible and foster a deeper appreciation for Black cinema.

Curator and host Felix Curtis moved to Charlotte from the Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area, where he curated the San Francisco Black Film Festival and Black Filmworks, the annual film festival component of the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, for which he later served as Executive Director.