black joy is a visual feast in ‘feel that funk’ short

Black people often have to walk through the world with our Blackness subdued in order to not overwhelm the sensitive sensibilities of anyone who doesn’t understand what it means to be Black. That kind of existence opens us up to a world of never-ending scrutiny; so illustrator Jaleel Campbell and director Cristian Kaigler came together to create ‘Feel That Funk’, a short film that celebrates spaces where Black people can just be…

Feel that Funk: The Short film would not have been possible without this piece titled “Sugar Shack” by Ernie Barnes. Since I was a kid, I have seen this image and it never gets old. The piece has played a pivotal role in my work and how I depict black folks. Mr. Barnes perfectly captured the grace, poise, and overall energy of the black experience which continues to live on today. This film is dedicated to you and the beautiful legacy you left behind. #erniebarnes #feelthatfunk #jaleelcampbell #blackartmatters

A post shared by Formerly jaleelthecreator (@itsjalethal) on Aug 7, 2018 at 9:11am PDT

The film exudes the essence of Wakanda, Soul Train, and The Wiz, combining peak Black moments into a realm of Blackness that verges on magical realism. Campbell’s illustrations are brought to life as the piece mixes mediums in order to depict Black people freely existing in a place where they can peacefully explore and break boundaries while dancing to the funkified sounds of The Internet’s ‘Roll (Burbank Funk)’ from their latest album ‘Hive Mind’.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmUWYQaFWiY/?taken-by=cristiankaigler