Moving The Needle Forward

Photos: Moving the needle forward, a look into community discussions at Sankofa Video, Books, and Cafe

By Idia Enadeghe

There is a privilege in being able to sit between the floor-to-ceiling book-lined walls of

Sankofa. Through its archive of black stories, writers, and artists, as well as black

filmmakers, Sankofa carries the spirit of knowing the reality of what has already been

lived to move forward. Moreover, within these walls, there is rich discussion, and I was there for the first time, immersed in a place that facilitates the learning process, critical analysis, and the thoroughness with which black experience and community ferments.

On September 27th, 2025, author Dr. Wayne A. Rose introduced his book titled W.E.B.

Du Bois, Ethiopianism, and Black Internationalism: A New Interpretation of the Global

Color Line. In the book, he examines W.E.B. Du Bois's affinity with Ethiopia and black

internationalism. Yet the discussion was not just powered by the release of his book, but

by the passion he has for community, black consciousness, and Rastafarian spirit.

Even now, I still can’t comprehend the magnitude of witnessing this event. But when

sitting in between those walls, hearing his knowledge be shared, one thing I knew for

certain was that our ancestors would be proud. Proud that we could hold discussions that

fuel messages of hope, ones that give us the information to move past victimization, and ones that are truly dynamic for us and by us.

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To move past the color line and move the needle forward, we need people from every

generation to drive the message. From those before us, we now know their truths, and with

that, we must make our own analysis of their work. To form a true reflection of our society

and our goals. Sankofa. A place where discussions led by Black artists, creatives, and

leaders propel education and valuable knowledge for the rising agents of the world today.