For the last three days, in the lobby of the Nickelodeon Theater, the air was filled with animated conversation and the smell of buttered popcorn as patrons filed into the theater for this year's Black History Month film series. Tomorrow, the event wraps up with "Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande."
Every year, The Nick curates a lineup of movies highlighting Black figures in art. This year, the series is called Rhythm of Revolution, with each film featuring an iconic figure or moment in Black music history. The films are being shown from Feb. 24-27 at 7 p.m. at The Nickelodeon Theater on 1607 Main St.
In order to bring Rhythm of Revolution to life, The Nick worked with DJ Preach Jacobs, local artist, writer, manager of SoulHAUS art gallery and owner of Mo' Betta Soul, Kassidy Wright, marketing and development coordinator for The Nick, said.
“We definitely make sure we work with local organizations and other figures within the community to make sure we get a really good representation of what we're wanting to showcase," Wright said.
This year, Jacobs wanted to explore Black joy through music.
"When we're speaking about the history of the Black experience in America, there's also joy that's attached with it," Jacobs said. "And so I wanted to do something specific, where music brings joy, and I wanted to talk about that Black experience with joy and not just focus on documentaries that focus on a lot of the trauma that we go through."
Jacobs has worked with The Nick before, helping curate a series focused on Black love rather than Black trauma one year, playing films such as "If Beale Street Could Talk" and "Love Jones." 2024's theme followed similar ideas of Black artists and historical figures, showing documentaries on Thurgood Marshall, Jean-Michel Basquiat and the band 'A Tribe Called Quest'.
For 2025, the films are "Luther: Never Too Much," "Soul Power," "Wattstax" and "Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande." Each film features either an influential Black figure in music or a music festival documentary.
Jacobs said events such as Rhythm of Revolution are essential to Columbia and all its residents.
"I think that when the Nickelodeon is open to understanding that they serve the entire city of Columbia, it just makes sense, and I think that they've done a great job making sure that all voices are heard," Jacobs said.
A violinist stands outside of the Nickelodeon Theater on Feb. 25, 2025.
Regina Crump, an attendee at the showing of "Luther: Never Too Much" on the first night, said it’s important to showcase Black history, as it is important to American culture and history as a whole.
"It shows how we come together as a blended culture,” Crump said. "At the end of the day, I'm excited to know that we're being celebrated, and I think that other cultures should be as well.”
Crump, not originally from Columbia, found The Nick through coincidence, she said.
"Sometimes I take myself out to places, and I brought myself here a week and a half ago, downtown to the restaurant next door, and then I'm like, 'Oh my God, a movie theater.' So, I started looking at the flyers and the posters on the door, and that's how I just was like, 'I'm going to come here for a movie,'" Crump said.
The locally owned aspect of The Nickelodeon allows for a deeper connection between the theater and Columbia residents, Jacobs said.
"Those are the opportunities that you get with the independent theater that can work with the community a lot better than your standard movie theater brands that might be part of a chain," Jacobs said.
Another audience member, Charlene Wick, stays up to date on new showings.
"I'm a member, so I get the emails, and I just checked to see what's playing," Wick said. "I came to 'Luther: Never Too Much' ... It was wonderful."
"Luther: Never Too Much" explores the life and career of R&B artist Luther Vandross. It played on Monday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m.
"Soul Power" tells the story of the Zaire 74 music festival, following the artists and organizers who worked to bring it to life. It plays on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m.
"Wattstax" documents a benefit concert held to commemorate the 1965 Watts Riots, a six-day riot that left 34 people dead. It plays on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 6:30 p.m.
"Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande" follows the rise to fame of the influential British funk band Cymande. The film plays Thursday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m.