Songs of Black Folk 

(dirs. Justin Emeka & Haley Watson)

By: Adam Freed

When considering the national hubs of black culture, one doesn’t naturally gravitate to the Pacific Northwest.  Tacoma, Washington feels a far cry from the centuries-old cultural roots first planted in America’s southeast.  Despite this misconception that Washington state is culturally homogeneous, the black community is strong in Tacoma, as is the musical tradition passed on through generations of church-goers like Ramón Bryant Braxton.  In Songs of Black Folk, a documentary short film directed by Justin Emeka and Haley Watson, Braxton is called back to Tacoma to conduct the inaugural Juneteenth concert in order to share with his native region the rich history of black musical influence as well as to become an ambassador of the fine arts.    

The intrinsic compulsion towards music and religion feel very much intertwined within Songs of Black Folk, as they are both rich in a history dripping in curiosity and necessity.  Ramón Bryant Braxton, shares his story and his purpose via succinctly conducted interviews, that are delicately interspersed with images of the Herculean task of composing and conducting the monumental inaugural event.  While Songs of Black Folk suffers slightly from an air of inevitability, it successfully drives home a valuable reminder that music and culture are very much intertwined, and when it comes to the cultures of America’s minority communities, now is as good a time as any to preserve and celebrate the greatness of the past, present and future.  

Target Score: 7/10 - Outlining the planning and execution of Tacoma, Washington’s first ever fine arts Juneteenth celebration, Songs of Black Folk is a celebration of the arts from the perspective of a small but proud black community in the Pacific Northwest. 

Songs of Black Folk is included in Movie Archer's coverage of the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival.