Film Screening: We Were Here: Black Stories of Revival in the 413

Join us for a film screening and community discussion of three short films exploring a resurrection of history and reclamation of culture in Western Massachusetts. 

“Legacies” examines different facets of the Black experience in western Massachusetts through the lens of three different stories. “Redefining Legacy,” directed by Joe Aidonidis, tells the story of Sheffield Historical Society’s efforts to research the untold story of members of Sheffield’s Black community, which becomes a very personal journey as one woman uncovers her family’s history. The work of Common Wealth Murals and the AfriCOBRA Archive Project to preserve the legacy of renowned Springfield artist and muralist Nelson Stevens is celebrated in “Art for the People,” directed by Evan Goodchild. The final film, “Long Hast Thou Stood,” also directed by Joe Aidonidis, explores the importance of the church to Black culture and the challenges of maintaining institutions of faith in the modern era, as exemplified by Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Springfield.

This program is supported by Mass Humanities and New England Public Media.