On 20 August 2014 the US Consulate General, in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, will screen From Selma to Soweto, an episode of the documentary series Have You Heard from Johannesburg, produced by Connie Field in 2010.
This screening will take place at 17h00 at the Nelson Mandela Foundation, 107 Central Street, Houghton.
Secure parking is available along Central Street.
From Selma to Soweto highlights how one of South Africa's most important and powerful allies, the United States, becomes a key battleground in the anti-apartheid movement as African-Americans lead the charge to change the government's policy toward the apartheid regime.
A grassroots movement to get colleges, city councils and states to divest their holdings in companies doing business in South Africa spread across the entire nation, pressuring the US Congress to finally sanction South Africa.
This victory is won against the opposition of many in the US government, including President Ronald Reagan.
For the first time, African-Americans played a significant role in altering US foreign policy.
Connie Field (producer/director) is an Academy Award-nominated director, who has made a number of high-profile documentaries that have been shown all over the world.
Before getting involved in film she worked as an organiser in many social and human rights organisations, where she established her commitment to progressive social change that she has carried into her film career.
Many of her films focus on hidden histories, stories that had not been told before but which should be an important part of our collective memories.
For information on Connie Field, please follow this link.
All media are welcome to join the screening.
For more information and to RSVP, please contact Tebogo Sepeng at the US Consulate on SepengTV@state.gov, or call +27 (011) 290 3371 or +27 (0)79 111 1981.