Milwaukee Film's 'Black Lens' festival continues Black culture celebration in return to in-person events

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Every February, Americans celebrate African American history in the United States.

In Milwaukee, many honor Black culture and traditions through film.

The Black Lens film festival is back, and in person, after the pandemic forced a virtual setting last year. 

The festival gives people a chance to dive deeper into Black culture with more than 20 films showing at the Oriental Theater, on the city's east side.

"In many ways, we're still grappling with the legacy of being Black in America, right? Think about Juneteenth. All of a sudden the entire country, now, knows about Juneteenth when that wasn't the case just a couple of years ago," Geraud Blanks, Milwaukee Film's chief innovation officer, said.

Each week of February has a different theme.

From exploring Black experiences, amplifying Black love, the evolution of Black families, politics and pop culture and what the future of Black America looks like.

"We are having discussions now that we have never had before and I feel like there's an openness that we've never really experienced," Blanks said.

Over the last few years, America has experienced a reckoning, exposing deep cracks in social and racial norms.

To some, arts and culture are the gateways to both connection and reconciliation.

Black Lens festival runs all month long.

For more information on films, events and tickets click here.