Name: Through a Flowering Place: Women of the Saltwater Railroad Film Screening
Start: 2023-07-28T18:30:00-04:00
End: 2023-07-28T21:30:00-04:00
Location: L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center

Through a Flowering Place: Women of the Saltwater Railroad Film Screening

GAC is a non-profit 501.c3 that produces and presents original material including theater, art exhibits, humanities and science events/scholarships and urban design engagements since 2011.

Grace Arts Center (GAC)

July is a month of celebrating freedom seekers, women of Florida's Underground Railroad, salty places of refuge in 1800's Spanish Territory

L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center

In July, as Americans reflect on the proclamation of freedom by the thirteen colonies during the 1776 war for independence, it is equally important to acknowledge the changes that were happening during the same period in the Spanish Florida territory, named &#x27;a flowering place&#x27; by Ponce de Leon in 1513. Many maroons, people of African descent, negotiated their freedom with Native Americans who in turn fought to preserve their unique way of life.Historians based in the Bahamas, Mexico, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida were commissioned or contributed to the detailed recounting of the journeys of individual female freedom seekers. Each of the five captivating films is narrated in a different language including Muscogee (ancient Creek and Seminole dialects), French-based Creole, Gullah, and English. The languages with English captions immerse the audiences in the diverse cultures and rich heritage of Florida history. Through the powerful narratives, viewers will gain a deeper understanding of the struggles and triumphs experienced by these extraordinary women. Friday July 28, 2023: Doors open with light refreshments 6:30 PMUnderground Railroad Researcher, Stefan Moss, discusses his contributions 6:45 PM Screening “Women of the Saltwater Railroad - Elizabeth Newton and Rose Perpall” 7:00 PM “Elizabeth Newton and Rose Perpall: United in Freedom” — Narrated by African American Gullah historian and storyteller in the Carolinas, Dr. Jessica Berry and Jannifaye Singleton respectively, with English titles. The film portrays the intertwined stories of Elizabeth Newton and Rose Perpall, two maroon women who sailed with their families to the Bahamas in pursuit of freedom with contrasting fates.Q﻿/A with audience 7:30 PMScreening “Women of the Saltwater Railroad, Susan Horse&quot; at 7:45 PM “Susan Horse: a Black Seminole&#x27;s Trail of Tears” — Narrated by Creek storyteller, Linda Bear Wood based in Oklahoma, with portions in the ancient Seminole language and English titles. The film showcases the courageous journey of Black Seminole, Susan Horse, who traveled with her people and a band of Florida Seminoles to establish a community in Oklahoma, Texas and Mexico while facing ongoing threats to their safety and freedom.Q﻿/A with audience 8:20 PMClosing remarks 8:45 PMBelow is a description of the other films in the series in addition to the two films planned for the Victory Black Box Theatre (all were screened earlier in July in various locations in Florida). More film events are scheduled through 2024 with contributing cultural artists and historians.“Romana Biassou: Journey of Strength” — Narrated by local Haitian artist and teacher, Emonde Prosper, in Creole with English titles. The film chronicles the life of Romana Jacobo, wife of Haitian Revolution architect, Jorge, who was forced to leave her homeland for the Spanish colony of St. Augustine and ultimately sailed to Cuba. “Anna Kingsley: From Bondage to Resilience” — Narrated by African American actor Jessica Conway in English. This film depicts the incredible journey of Anna Kingsley, an African woman who married her slaveholder and eventually found freedom in Haiti before returning to Florida to face significant challenges.“Milly Francis: A Tale of Perseverance” — Narrated by Cindy Helms, a member of the Santa Rosa Creek Band of north Florida, with a portion in the ancient Muscogee language and English titles. This film portrays the relentless spirit of Milly Francis, whose father the Prophet Josiah Francis, led the Red Stick movement, recounting the displacement and hardships experienced during the Creek Civil War and the Trail of Tears.Should you have questions about the film series or want to learn more about screenings planned this year, contact the event organizer.T﻿he &#x27;City of the Arts&#x27; Initiative - to share cultural films, performances and art exhibits in various community center locations, free to the public, in Broward County this summer, fall and winter in 2023-2024 - was made possible via a grant from the Community Foundation of Broward. T﻿he film series was made possible by a grant from the Florida Division of Historical Resources, the Florida Division of Arts and Culture, the Broward County Cultural Division as recommended by the Cultural Council and the Board of County Commissioners of Broward County .

Through a Flowering Place: Women of the Saltwater Railroad Film Screening

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Through a Flowering Place: Women of the Saltwater Railroad Film Screening

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