“By Their Own Hands” Opening Exhibit Reception

Come for an exclusive first look at the new exhibit, By Their Own Hands: The Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame! This exhibit celebrates the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, Inc. (BFHFI), an organization founded in Oakland, California in 1974 to honor Black filmmakers, actors, and myriad other performers. The BFHFI includes one-of-a-kind items such as a Sidney Poitier’s autographed shooting script for Let’s Do It Again (1975), the Nicholas Brothers’ tap shoes, and letters from icons like Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfrey, among others. The centerpiece is a stunning wall of 42 BFHFI inductees’ handprints—a distinction comparable to receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! Select examples of inductees’ handprints include Maya Angelou, Lena Horne, Eartha Kitt, Richard Pryor, and Billy Dee Williams. In summer 2024, the IU Affinity Giving Group’s Black Philanthropy Circle (BPC) generously awarded the BFCA a grant to frame the handprints. Big thanks to the BPC for its generosity, support, and helping advance the BFCA’s mission! The BFHFI exhibit will run through Spring 2026. Please stop by to experience it!

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