Truxal Library Special Topic Guide: Juneteenth: Freedom Deferred

"By the 19th century the United States was the only western country still practicing slavery. Every European nation had already abolished the practice of buying and selling human beings for labor. America's northern states had ended slavery too, but in the South the white community vowed to do anything necessary to hold on to slavery, even if that meant civil war." 47 minutes.

"Freedom Bags is the story of African-American women who migrated from the rural south during the first three decades of the 20th century. Hoping to escape from the racism and poverty of the post-Civil War South, they boarded segregated trains for an uncertain future up North. Having had limited education, most could find jobs only as house workers. With spirit and humor, the women remember their tactics for self preservation in the homes of their employers, where they often faced exploitation and sexual harassment. After hours they relished their independence and enjoyed good times with friends and family. Their stories are interwoven with rare footage, still photographs, and period music to create a portrait of the largest internal migration in U.S. history. These were proud women who kept their dignity and sense of worth through difficult times." 34 minutes.

"This documentary explores the complex issue of reparations in the United States using a thoughtful approach to history, historical injustices, systemic inequities, and the critical dialogue on racial conciliation. Through personal narratives, community inquiries, and scholarly insights, it aims to inspire understanding of the scope and rationale of the reparations debate." 55 minutes.

"Slavery By Another Name challenges one of America's most cherished assumptions -- the belief that slavery in the US ended with Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. Based on Douglas A. Blackmon's Pulitzer Prize-winning book, the film tells how even as chattel slavery came to an end in the South in 1865, thousands of African Americans were pulled back into forced labor with shocking force and brutality." 1 hour 24 minutes.

In this series, explore the poetry of the American Civil Rights movement.
This is available in Digital Theatre Plus database.