African American Intellectual History Society Releases 'Sinners' Syllabus

Ryan Coogler’s new film “Sinners” is sparking widespread intellectual and cultural discussion for its layered portrayal of Black spirituality, folklore, and history, set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow era. The film’s release has inspired the African American Intellectual History Society to publish 'The Sinners Movie Syllabus,' which guides audiences through the movie’s multifaceted historical and cultural references, encouraging deeper engagement with its themes. This phenomenon reflects a broader movement where Black artists and curators use their work to explore and challenge narratives around Black identity, spirituality, and digital presence. Exhibitions like ‘Code Switch’ and retrospectives such as Rashid Johnson’s at the Guggenheim provide platforms to highlight Black contributions to art, technology, and culture, stressing the importance of representation and intersectionality. Artists like Johnson discuss how creative practice serves as spiritual grounding, and curators emphasize the need to include Black experiences in the canon of art and media history. Collectively, these efforts underscore an ongoing commitment to contextualizing and celebrating Black creativity in contemporary culture.