SARATOGA SPRINGS­– Saratoga Jewish Community Arts (SJCA) will present a panel discussion on Zoom of the 1961 film “A Raisin in the Sun.” The panel discussion, part of SJCA’s Social Justice series, will be on Thursday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. The film. “A Raisin in the Sun.” is based on a play by Lorraine Hansberry that debuted on Broadway in 1959. It was the first play by a black woman to be performed on Broadway.

“In the late 1950s, it was a risky investment to launch a show in which all the characters but one were black,” said SJCA Coordinator Phyllis Wang. “It took some 18 months for the producer, Philip Rose, to raise enough money to commence production.”

The 1961 film version was directed by Daniel Petrie and stars Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, and Louis Gossett, Jr. It was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being culturally, historically or aesthetically significant. The film examines generational conflict and housing discrimination and captures the high stakes, shifting currents, and varieties of experience within black life in midcentury America.

The film is available to rent or buy online.

The discussion panel members will share their insights on how relevant the film remains for America today —and for all families facing similar challenges.  Pre-registration is required and may be obtained by entering the URL in a browser: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/uvTaVZu/Raisin.