Sims will speak about her book Women in Blaxploitation (2006, McFarland) and a answer questions from the audience. Her book explores the surge of cheaply made, so-called "blaxploitation movies" that appeared in the early 1970s and how these films changed the presentation of African-American females both on and off the screen.

Sims will discusses the social, political, and cultural context in which blaxploitation films emerged and focus on four African-American actresses-Pam Grier, Tamara Dobson, Teresa Graves and Jeanne Belle. 

Sims is assistant professor of American studies and ethnic studies at Penn State.

Reeves Caf� is located on the lower level of Reeves Library on the Moravian College Main Campus.  The lecture is sponsor by The Center for the Study of Media in Culture (CoSMiC), LVAIC Africana Studies Consortium, Moravian's Department of Sociology and Sociology Club, with support from Moravian College's Committee on Arts and Lectures. For more information, call 610 861-1491.