Michelle Williams narrates film on hometown

Grammy Award Winning Artist Michelle Williams will narrate the film, “Black Rockfordians: Their Journey Through the Forest City.” The film is about Willams’ hometown of Rockford, Illinois.

Rockford University and the Northern Illinois Southern Illinois Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society will co-host the film, scheduled for screening on Tuesday, February 18 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., in the Lion’s Den located on the Rockford University campus.

The film was made to accompany the book of oral histories. And according to reports, the film covers the history of African Americans in Rockford starting with Lewis Lemon. The historical overview includes social life, business, churches, newspapers, government, and politics. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion, with panelists to include community members: Estelle Black, Michael Williams, Elridge Skip Gilbert, Lloyd Hawks, Katherine Robinson, Richard Meeks, Fayrene Muhammad and Joyce Higgins.

Source: Soul News Network

The film was released in 2007 and is available on DVD at several local Illinois libraries. It is not known if Ms. Williams appears in the film or is only heard as the narrator.