and how she missed seeing things grow. Her story became the foundation of
Well Rooted
a
project I couldn’t have conceived on my own. At the end of those five days, I had been to three
Black-owned farms and talked to over a dozen black farmers. Each told captivating stories of
their heartbreaking efforts to keep their farms alive and their love of watching their crops
blossom each year.
The competition only showed 16 of over 100 films and chose four Jury Award winners to
continue towards the national competition. I went with my cousin, whom the film was dedicated
to, and we just hoped to see the story on the screen. When my film premiered, we hugged, glad
that everyone was able to share a bit of the magic that we had found. When
Well Rooted
won the
Jury Award, I truly felt like a magician. I realized when I enthusiastically looked for, listened to,
and shared stories that fascinated me, I could create magic with the people around me.
This new outlook helped me form a stronger connection with my mother. I learned late
into my college career that she had experienced five miscarriages between my older brother and
sister. My whole world suddenly stood still as I grappled with learning about the horror she
endured for years. I began to research statistics and listen to the many harrowing stories of Black
women just like her. I realized that in searching for new connections with those around me, I had
overlooked the communities that were right in front of me. For the past year, I have dedicated
myself to amplifying these neglected voices by interviewing mothers of color and conveying
their experiences through film. In sharing their stories, I have learned that magic can be created
even from the darkest places.
Filmmaking has been a way for me to connect communities, and give individuals within
them the ability to share their stories. I long to create films that uplift marginalized POC’s and
weave intricate narratives of adventures, revelations, tragedies and triumphs told through the
eyes of the people who’ve lived them. I hope to create stories that make audiences look deeper to
see themselves in the people on screen and watch the magic happening right in front of their
eyes. I’ve learned that in telling these stories your world gets bigger, your connections get
deeper, and for the little Black girl who believed in magic, you feel less lonely.
Harry Houdini said “Keep your enthusiasm! There is nothing more contagious than
exuberant enthusiasm!” It’s with this spirit that I believe with an enthusiastic willingness to
listen, share and create, you can tell a story that can become a catalyst for change. As a Black,
female documentary filmmaker, I aspire to create films that help the audience see parts of
