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The medium of virtual reality has been marshaled to explore everything from nature to outer space, roller coaster thrills, the human body and fictional stories, but it’s never been put to use quite in the way of Traveling While Black.

The Emmy-nominated Vr film directed by Oscar- and Emmy-winning filmmaker Roger Ross Williams immerses viewers in a fundamental aspect of the black experience in America: the peril of facing racially-motivated assault in public settings and the need for safe spaces free of that threat.

“It’s a big moment, almost a groundbreaking moment for virtual reality,” Williams tells Deadline. “You don’t think about Vr as a tool of social justice…I think very few [of] these sort of social justice pieces are made in Vr.”

The Vr documentary unfolds mostly in Ben’s Chili Bowl, an institution in Washington, D.C. famous for its conviviality, but most importantly as...

Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are among the prominent black figures, politicians and celebrities covering the outside walls of famed D.C. restaurant Ben’s Chili Bowl in a new mural unveiled Wednesday.

The former first couple’s portrait looms larger than life at the popular restaurant located on U Street in Washington, D.C., and joins images of comedian Dave Chapelle, late musician Prince, rapper Wale, actress Taraji P. Henson, Muhammad Ali, Harriet Tubman and former city mayor Marion Barry, among others.

According to The Washington Post, the mural was commissioned by the city and painted by artist Aniekan Udofia.

[[tmz:video id="0_oxne4yf5"]] Donald Trump gained a few lbs on the campaign trail, and a famous landmark in D.C. may exacerbate the problem in a big way.  Virginia Ali, the owner of Ben's Chili Bowl, is dead set on carrying on the tradition of stuffing the faces of presidents with greasy delectabilities. She's got her sights set on a plate of chili cheese fries and the chili half-smoke, with Donald's name on it. She also thinks a...