Thanks to the Center for Civic Engagement, students came together in the Kean Room of the Drew University Library on the evening of Feb. 26 to not only watch the 2025 “Sinners” film, but to also discuss its depiction of Black history and culture and how impactful it is for such a film to come out during the current political and social climate. The panel after the film was composed of the following Drew faculty members; Dr. Tami Navarro, chair of africana studies, Dr. Poe Johnson, assistant professor of media and communications and Dr. Trevor Weston, chair of the music department.
For the first part of the event, attendees ate snacks provided by the event organizers while watching the film. There was minimal talking during the film screening, since everyone was respectful and took in all the film had to offer.
After the movie ended, the panelists were seated at the front of the room, along with a student curator. The panelists discussed topics such as the start of rural blues after slavery and how in the film there was no single definition of freedom, that that concept was relative to the characters and their experiences. One of the panelists, Dr. Weston, told the audience that, “performing blues allows you to speak freely,” referring to the film’s use of Delta blues music as a symbol of freedom and resilience of African Americans during the Prohibition era in the 1930s.
Panelist Dr. Johnson commented on how “Sinners” interacts with the genre of horror as a whole. He explained how horror relies on “disruption” caused by the monster, so then the goal is to “get rid of the monster to get back to the status quo.” In the case of “Sinners,” however, the status quo of the Jim Crow South isn’t what the protagonists are fighting for.
Regarding the main villain, Remmick, Dr. Johnson commented that he has had the experience of being colonized, and now has become the colonizer himself. For the protagonists, he’s “a different form of the monster that’s always been.”
The faculty panelists invited students in attendance to ask them questions about the film and the themes and cultures it explored. During the Q&A, Dr. Navarro expanded on the impact of religion on the film. While the main character, Sammie, finds comfort in Christianity at different moments throughout the film, traditional Yoruban religion plays a large role in the plot, through the character of Annie.
Overall, students were able to get a better understanding of the film as not only a great horror-period piece, but also how culturally significant it is and how to approach it from all different types of perspectives. It gave everyone the chance to talk more about what they saw on screen with faculty who could give them well-rounded and informed insight.
The Center for Civic Engagement is hosting the Day of Scholars on April 17. Be sure to follow @drewengage and @drew_africana to keep up to date on future collaboration events as well.
Katie Germinder is a junior majoring in environmental studies and sustainability and minoring in anthropology. Nathan Moldover is a first year double majoring in political science and philosophy and minoring in law, justice and society.
