That's a long title for this item, but that's the only way I could tell you the confirmed news that actress S. Epatha Merkerson will be in attendance for the screenings of her new documentary The Contradictions of Fair Hope next week at the Black Harvest Film Festival in Chicago

The film, which she co-directed with Rockell Metcalf and which is narrated by Whoopi Goldberg, will be screened on Sunday August 19 at 5:15PM and the following day on Monday August 20 at 6:15PM at the Gene Siksel Film Center in downtown Chicago.

The film sheds light on the unqiue Southern institution known as "benevolent societies"  which were forrmed by former slaves after the Civil War to provide health care, religious services and burials for black people who had no other recourse.

Here's the trailer for the film and a brief interview with Mekerson and Metcalf discussing their film;