Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons is a documentary about African American Latter-day Saints. The project is headed by Margaret Young and Darius Gray, authors of several award-winning books and articles about Black Mormons, and by Danor Gerald, a promising new filmmaker.
Few people, Mormon and non-Mormon, are aware that there has been an African American presence in the LDS Church from its earliest days, that the vanguard company of Mormon included three “colored servants” who were baptized Mormons, and whose descendants remained active in the Church for several generations. This documentary talks about that little-known legacy, and confronts the hard issues which surfaced in the most turbulent years of the Civil Rights Movement, when the Church restricted its priesthood from those of African descent. It discusses how that restriction was lifted and what the lives and challenges of the modern Black Mormon pioneers are.
I am thrilled that there will be a showing of "Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons" at 10th Annual San Francisco Black Film Festival. I have been watching this documentary's progress for some time now and have heard nothing but raves from those who have been lucky enough to see it.
Margaret Young (of BYU fame) and Darius Gray (mentioned in Dean Hughes' Hearts of the Fathers series) have worked long and hard to cover a sensitive topic with testimony and honesty. They will both be available for a question and answer session after the showing on the 14th.
I would not recommend this film for young viewers, as it is intense. Bring your hankies, my friends, and expect to be filled with sorrow for the trials of our brothers and sisters and filled with joy at the mercies of God.
5 comments:
I've already got my tickets for E, J & me. MH is coming too, which leaves 3 seats in the van if anyone wants a ride. We'll be doing the cheap stop at Cordelia's fast food junction on the way home.
This looks so interesting. I can't get to SF, even though I would love to! I want to hear all about it and where and when we can get it in theaters or on dvd!
By the way, I couldn't resist the Barbie comment, so that's how I voted!
Hey, this does sound interesting even for a less-than-scholarly MO like myself. I enjoy historical films that are well presented and it sound like this is one to look for.
This sounds interesting. But it looks like it will be awhile before I see it.
I know. I thought we'd need to wait for the DVD to come out. We are so lucky to have the film come to Northern California. I am especially looking forward to the question and answer portion of the event.
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