Photo Credit: Asota Seven Arts & Entertainment
A new documentary by Dallas filmmaker Tony Asota examines the socioeconomic progress of Black America through the history and influence of one of Dallas’ most enduring Black cultural institutions, the Pan-African Connection.
At the Pan-African Connection centers on the Pan-African Connection Bookstore, Art Gallery and Resource Center in Oak Cliff.
Its role as a hub for education, civic engagement and community organizing can be traced back for more than three decades.
The film explores how the institution has served as a space for cultural preservation and political awareness amid ongoing economic and social challenges facing Black communities.
Asota, a Dallas native and founder of Asota Seven Arts & Entertainment, began developing the project after discovering the bookstore during a visit home in 2021 while living in Los Angeles.
At the time, he was working as a producer on several Netflix projects, including Love Is Blind and Last Chance U: Basketball. He returned to Dallas in 2024 to complete filming.
The documentary examines the Pan-African Connection as a multifaceted space that functions as a bookstore, classroom and organizing center, highlighting its longevity and influence in Oak Cliff and the broader Dallas community.
The film also draws on the scholarship of Joy DeGruy and Claud Anderson, addressing themes such as generational trauma, systemic exclusion and internalized oppression, while encouraging civic participation and economic awareness.
“My heart is full. Historical documentation is so important. Telling our stories in our own voices is a must,” said Akwete Tyehimba, co-founder and CEO of the Pan-African Connection.
“The story of this Pan-African institution that Bandele Tyehimba built is one that the world should know.”
The film will screen during Black History Month at three locations across North Texas, each followed by discussions with the filmmaker and community leaders.
The first screening is scheduled for Feb. 1 at the Denton Black Film Festival, beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the Alamo Drafthouse Denton.
A post-screening Q&A will feature Asota and producer Adjwoa Tyehimba.
A second screening will take place Feb. 6 at Mountain View Community College, beginning at 12:30 p.m. in Room W171.
The event is open to the public and will include a discussion following the film.
The final screening is scheduled for Feb. 26 at the South Dallas Cultural Center, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the film beginning at 7 p.m.
The screening is free, with tickets available through Eventbrite, and will conclude with a moderated discussion featuring Asota and local community leaders.
Organizers said the screenings are intended to encourage reflection, dialogue and community engagement while highlighting the continued relevance of Black-owned cultural institutions across Dallas and the rest of the country.
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