WE WANT THE FUNK!

Jazz, techno, rock and roll – Detroit has played a pioneering role in many genres of music, but perhaps none more so than in the development of funk – as personified by George Clinton and Parliament- Funkadelic. Stanley Nelson, one of American’s most preeminent filmmakers, captures the rich history of funk and its continuing influence, both in Detroit and globally, in his latest documentary, “WE WANT THE FUNK!”

Detroit PBS in partnership with Indie Lens Pop-Up and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, will be presenting a free screening of the film on Thursday, April 3, in the museum’s beautifully remodeled auditorium. It will be followed by a panel discussion hosted by Satori Shakoor, who performed with the Brides of Funkenstein, Clinton’s backup vocalists. She will be joined by people who were part of the Funkadelic community or whose own music was influenced by that sound.

Afterward, guests are invited to socialize at a reception, while listening to Mike Henry (aka deejay OG Drip 💧) and three members of Washtenaw My Brother’s Keeper, who will take turns providing funk for those who want it (that would be everyone in the room).

Parking for this event is available in the Detroit Institute of Arts lot for $7, which is located just north of the museum. You can then enter The Wright either through its Farnsworth or Warren entrance.

Guests with any accessibility can be dropped off in the roundabout in front of the museum off Warren Ave. The museum has access to a limited number of wheelchairs for guest use.

INDIE LENS POP-UP LAUNCHES NEW SEASON OF SNEAK PEEK SCREENINGS IN DETROIT AND MORE THAN 100 OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE U.S.

National Screening Series Returns With Sneak Previews Of INDEPENDENT LENS Documentaries Followed By Community-Driven Conversations

Indie Lens Pop-Up events provide a space to watch and discuss timely issues explored in its award-winning documentaries. Hundreds of these screenings are hosted in-person and virtually by partners across the nation. Since its inception in 2005, more than 7,200 Indie Lens Pop-Up events have brought an estimated 430,000 participants together to discuss issues that impact local communities.

About INDEPENDENT LENS

INDEPENDENT LENS is an Emmy® Award-winning PBS documentary series. With founding executive producer Lois Vossen, the series has been honored with 10 Academy Award nominations and features documentaries united by the creative freedom, artistic achievement, and unflinching visions of independent filmmakers. Presented by ITVS, INDEPENDENT LENS is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Acton Family Giving, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, Park Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, and National Endowment for the Arts. Stream anytime on the PBS app. For more visit pbs.org/independentlens.

Support for Indie Lens Pop-Up was provided by ITVS, CPB, and PBS.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, 315 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, United States