Living With Pride: Ruth Ellis @ 100 | 20th Anniversary Screening

When Ruth Ellis died in 2000 at the age of 101, she was thought to be the oldest "out" African American lesbian known. Directed by award-winning independent filmmaker Yvonne Welbon, Living With Pride is an extraordinary film about a most remarkable woman, portraying Ruth Ellis’ indomitable spirit in old age and her life spanning the 20^th century. The film won 10 best documentary film awards and offers a rare opportunity to experience a century of American history as lived by one inspiring woman. Ruth Ellis shows what is possible and what can be realized, if one not only lives long and ages well, but also lives with pride.  Welbon will be present to lead the post-screening discussion of her film.

Registration encouraged for this program. Please scroll down.

Welbon is Senior Creative Consultant at Chicken & Egg Pictures. She is an award-winning filmmaker and founder of the Chicago-based non-profit Sisters in Cinema. Other films include Remembering Wei Yi-fang, Remembering Myself, Sisters in Cinema, a documentary on the history of black women feature film directors, and over 20 other films produced and distributed. Her work has been broadcast on PBS, Starz, TV-ONE, IFC, Bravo, Sundance Channel, BET, HBO, Netflix, and screened in over 100 film festivals around the world. Current projects include an Untitled Project which focuses on the 6 years she lived in Taiwan, The Roadwork Oral History and Documentary Project about a multiracial women’s cultural movement, and the upcoming Sisters in Cinema Media Arts Center on Chicago’s Southside to develop and celebrate Black women filmmakers and their audiences. Welbon has taught at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and Bennett College. She is the author of Sisters in the Life: A History of Out African American Lesbian Media-Making.

Presented in conjunction with the 2019 One Book One San Diego selection The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai.

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Parking is underground and free with 2-hour validation. The Central Library is one block from the Park & Market stop on the Trolley Blue and Orange lines. Bus routes #12 stops right in front of the library.