Film Screening: RAISE YOUR HEAD UP: FREEDOM COLONIES IN TEXAS
On the opening night of the 23rd Annual Chicago African Diaspora International Film Festival, the festival begins with explorations of collective identity and civil rights.
Watch: Blueprint for My People (10 min) and Raise Your Head Up: Freedom Colonies in Texas (53 min). Both are Chicago premieres.
Blueprint for My People - Chicago Premiere
This short film illuminates the African-American experience by lyrically interweaving spoken-word narration of Margaret Walker’s epic poem, “For My People” with contemporary images and rare 19th century cyanotypes (blue photographic prints known as “blueprints”) of African Americans. Directed by Carol Bash
United States, Documentary, 2023, 10 min, English
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Raise Your Head Up: Freedom Colonies in Texas - Chicago Premiere
An exploration of Freedom Colonies—communities established by formerly enslaved African Americans in Texas after emancipation. Through historical records and present-day testimony, the film traces how land, autonomy, and community were built and sustained, while remaining vulnerable to erasure. Directed by Richard Orton, United States, Documentary, 2023, 53 min, English
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3651325-0
