Fighting White Supremacy: The African American Experience

- Short Films Program

• Keepers of the Flame

On the eve of the 1913 inaugural Women's Suffrage parade, the formidable activist Mary Church Terrell, along with two leaders of historic African-American Sororities, Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta, confront and challenge parade organizer Alice Paul, regarding the racist, exclusionary practices of the white suffragette movement, for Black suffragettes to participate in the parade. Directed by Shari L. Carpenter, 2023, 17 minutes, Drama, USA, English

• How to Get Free

This documentary short film follows Elisabeth Epps, the founder of the community bail fund Colorado Freedom Fund, as she works to abolish cash bail in Colorado and end the criminalization of poverty while sparring with the local sheriff and considering a run for state representative. Directed by Geeta Gandbhir, Samantha Knowles, 2023, 30 minutes, Documentary, USA, English

• Judging Juries - DC Premiere

Judging Juries reveals the barriers to jury service which deprive defendants in criminal cases of juries which represents a cross-section of the community. The film looks at the issue of juror pay, the use of peremptory challenges which permit the dismissal of potential jurors for no stated reason, and the use of former felony convictions as a bar to jury service. Recent legislation in California is seeking to minimize the negative impact of these obstacles to jury service. Directed by Abby Ginzberg, 2024, 24 minutes, Documentary, USA, English

Host or Publisher African Diaspora International Film Festival