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Speakers for the Dead
Speakers for the Dead
2000, director: Jennifer Holness, David Sutherland
Film (49:47)
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> Black people | Ontario | Agricultural communities | Customs and traditions | Racism | Families | Memories | Religion | Social isolation | Black Canadians
In the 1930s in rural Ontario, farmer Bill Reid buried the tombstones of a
Black cemetery under a pile of broken rocks to make way for a potato patch. In
the 1980s, descendants of the original settlers, Black and White, came
together to restore the cemetery--but there were hidden truths no one wanted
to discuss. Deep racial wounds were opened. Scenes of the cemetery excavation,
interviews with residents and re-enactments--including one of a baseball game
where a broken headstone is used for home plate--add to the film's emotional
intensity.
Meet Helen and Alan Miller, seventh-generation Black Canadians and members of the cemetery restoration committee. And Les Mackinnon, a fiery, fourth-generation Scottish Canadian who heads the movement to restore the Priceville cemetery. Speakers of the Dead reveals the turmoil stirred up by desecrated graves and underlines the hidden history of Blacks in Canada.
Speakers of the Dead was produced as part of the Reel Diversity Competition for emerging filmmakers of colour. Reel Diversity is a National Film Board of Canada initiative in partnership with CBC Newsworld.
Meet Helen and Alan Miller, seventh-generation Black Canadians and members of the cemetery restoration committee. And Les Mackinnon, a fiery, fourth-generation Scottish Canadian who heads the movement to restore the Priceville cemetery. Speakers of the Dead reveals the turmoil stirred up by desecrated graves and underlines the hidden history of Blacks in Canada.
Speakers of the Dead was produced as part of the Reel Diversity Competition for emerging filmmakers of colour. Reel Diversity is a National Film Board of Canada initiative in partnership with CBC Newsworld.
In the 1930s in rural Ontario, farmer Bill Reid buried the tombstones of a
Black cemetery under a pile of broken rocks to make way for a potato patch. In
the 1980s, descendants of the original settlers, Black and White, came
together to restore the cemetery--but there were hidden truths no one wanted
to discuss. Deep racial wounds were opened. Scenes of the cemetery excavation,
interviews with residents and re-enactments--including one of a baseball game
where a broken headstone is used for home plate--add to the film's emotional
intensity.
Meet Helen and Alan Miller, seventh-generation Black Canadians and members of the cemetery restoration committee. And Les Mackinnon, a fiery, fourth-generation Scottish Canadian who heads the movement to restore the Priceville cemetery. Speakers of the Dead reveals the turmoil stirred up by desecrated graves and underlines the hidden history of Blacks in Canada.
Speakers of the Dead was produced as part of the Reel Diversity Competition for emerging filmmakers of colour. Reel Diversity is a National Film Board of Canada initiative in partnership with CBC Newsworld.
Meet Helen and Alan Miller, seventh-generation Black Canadians and members of the cemetery restoration committee. And Les Mackinnon, a fiery, fourth-generation Scottish Canadian who heads the movement to restore the Priceville cemetery. Speakers of the Dead reveals the turmoil stirred up by desecrated graves and underlines the hidden history of Blacks in Canada.
Speakers of the Dead was produced as part of the Reel Diversity Competition for emerging filmmakers of colour. Reel Diversity is a National Film Board of Canada initiative in partnership with CBC Newsworld.