The Tenth will co-host an advance Atlanta screening of W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With a Cause, premiering nationally in May as part of American Masters on PBS.

Directed by Rita Coburn, this feature-length documentary offers a sweeping and intimate portrait of W. E. B. Du Bois, one of the most influential intellectuals of the twentieth century. Scholar, activist, Pan Africanist, and co-founder of the NAACP, Du Bois challenged America to confront the realities of race and democracy while imagining a more just global future.

The film traces his life chronologically, drawing from rare archival footage and Du Bois’s own writings. Narrated by Viola Davis and featuring readings by Common, Courtney B. Vance, and Jeffrey Wright, the documentary is further shaped by insights from leading scholars and cultural thinkers, including Karida Brown, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Eddie Glaude Jr., Nikole Hannah-Jones, David Levering Lewis, Imani Perry, and others. The result is a layered exploration of a mind that refused to narrow its vision of freedom.

The evening will include a live conversation between Karida Brown and director Rita Coburn, offering deeper insight into Du Bois’s enduring influence and the making of the film, followed by a post-screening Q&A.

This is a rare opportunity to experience the film ahead of its national broadcast and to engage in dialogue around the legacy and relevance of Du Bois’s work today.