Fresh off its 2025 Tribeca Film Festival premiere Songs of Black Folk, a new musical 
tradition, brings together the largest gathering of 
black musical talent on a single stage in the Pacific Northwest, marking a new era for black artists in the PNW, on the meaningful backdrop of Juneteenth. Led by Ramon Bryant Braxton and Rev. Dr. Leslie Braxton, this extraordinary performance group establishes a new tradition, inspiring audiences and the next 
generation of Black artists. Inspired by this mission, we created a film to capture and celebrate black talent in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Ensuring their stories live beyond a single performance. The film captures a vibrant, often-overlooked community and commemorates 
a pivotal chapter in American history. As Artistic Director Ramón Bryant Braxton says, “I want these artists and audiences to be able to walk with their heads held high.” With this film we celebrate and bring greater
awareness to their extraordinary ambition, talent and musical power. Co-directors Justin Emeka and Haley Watson join us to talk about getting to know Ramon Bryant Braxton and Rev. Dr. Leslie Braxton, capturing the power of these concert performances, what the Juneteenth celebration and the importance of showcasing black artistry and black artist in the Pacific Northwest.
For more go to: haleylwatson.com/songs-of-black-folk
For more go to: justinemeka.com/songs-of-black-folk
About the filmmaker – Director Haley Watson is known for films exploring human experience. Her storytelling prowess was exemplified when she pitched the original story for the Oscar-winner The Queen of Basketball. Watson’s journey to directing was through the camera department and includes recognition from AFI and ASC. In June 2024 she debuted the short documentary she directed, Motorcycle Mary, at Tribeca Film Festival. The film was executive produced by Lewis Hamilton and double Academy Award winning Breakwater Studios. The film was acquired by ESPN’s 30 for 30 series. She now Premiers Songs of Black Folk for her second consecutive world premiere at Tribeca. For more go to: haleylwatson.com
About the filmmaker – Justin Emeka is an award-winning filmmaker from the Pacific Northwest with over 25 years of experience as a theater director. He is especially known for blending classical works with Black cultural expression. In 2022, he received a prestigious TV/Film Directing Fellowship from the Drama League of New York, expanding his creative vision into screen storytelling. His first two original short films, BIOLOGICAL and Six Winters Gone Still, have screened at festivals around the world, earning acclaim for their poetic visual language and emotional depth. Emeka brings a unique voice shaped by his background in theater, Capoeira Angola, and a lifelong commitment to telling stories that center Black resilience and beauty. He is a member of the Executive Board for the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC). Emeka is also a tenured professor of Theater and Africana Studies at Oberlin College, where he teaches directing, acting, and Capoeira. For more go to: justinemeka.com
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