Sacred Blues: “Sinners” and the Rhythm of Black Spirituality

Join Rev. Kelli X, Scarritt Bennett Center’s Director of Racial Justice Ministries, in Harambee Auditorium at 6 p.m. on Tuesday May 20th for a hybrid conversation on the tension between religion and spirituality in Black life, the grief and glory of gospel and blues, and the ongoing struggle between cultural celebration and cultural consumption and appropriation, as expressed in the movie Sinners.

Rev. X will be joined virtually by artist and actor Saul Williams, who played the pastor and father of Sammie in the movie Sinners, and in person with Rev. jeff o. carr, founder and Chief Spiritual Officer of The Infinity Fellowship. Bring your inquiries, insights, and inspirations to ensure an enriching conversation at the intersection of faith, film, and culture.

The event and parking are free. We ask that you register so that we can anticipate the attendance.

Saul Williams is a Writer, Musician, Poet, Director, and Actor who came into public attention with the release of the internationally acclaimed film Slam (dir. Marc Levin), which Saul co-wrote and starred in, introducing the world to the Slam Poetry movement, and winning Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize and the Cannes Camera D’Or, in 1998.

As an actor, Saul was a series regular as “Sivad” on the CW’s Girlfriends and has appeared in a handful of films including: K-Pax, Lackawanna Blues, New York, I Love You, and most recently the French-Senegalese Aujourd’hui- TEY (dir. Alain Gomis) which won 2013’s L’Etalon D’Or at FESPACO, where Saul was the first African-American to win Best Actor in the largest and oldest African film festival. TEY was also awarded The Prize of the City at The Venice Film Festival. In 2014, Saul made his Broadway debut as the lead in Broadway’s first hip-hop musical, Holler If Ya Hear Me, based on the lyrics and poetry of Tupac Shakur. He starred in the 2021 film Akilla’s Escape, for which his performance earned him a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Actor. His Directorial Debut Neptune Frost premiered at Cannes 2021 and saw theatrical release in June 2022. It has been lauded by critics worldwide.

Saul has performed in over 30 countries and read his poetry at more than 300 universities, with invitations that have spanned from the White House, the Sydney Opera House, Lincoln Center, The Louvre, The Getty Center, Queen Elizabeth Hall, to villages, townships, community centers, and prisons across the world. Saul has published five books of poetry which have been translated into several languages. Saul’s writings and lesson plans surrounding his work have been added to the curriculum of schools and universities around the world.

As a musician, Saul has released six albums and toured or collaborated with dozens of artists including: Nas, Janelle Monae, Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against The Machine, The Roots, Mos Def, The Mars Volta, David Cross, Allen Ginsburg, Amiri Baraka, Gil Scott-Heron, Jose James, Arthur H, Camille, Ayo, TV On The Radio, System Of A Down, KRS ONE, DJ Krust, DJ Spooky, Cold Cut, Matisyahu, Blackalicious, K’naan, K-OS, and Erykah Badu.

Saul is currently working on his next Album as well as a new film project, and is featured on the latest releases by Shabaka, Kamasi Washington, and Denzel Curry.