Setting History Straight: Shadows Fall North is Community Triumph
“The turnout was beyond expectations,” said The Music Hall’s Programming Coordinator Chris Curtis, “and the feeling in the theater was so electric, supportive, and positive. There’s a lot of love in the community for all of the people who produced this film. The Music Hall is so proud of our long collaboration with The African Burying Ground Portsmouth.”
That the untold stories are part of our collective history, and should be part of ongoing education efforts, was a key theme of a post-film panel discussion. “Our goal is to make the stories visible in whatever way we can,” said JerriAnne Boggis, historic activist and director of the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail (PBHT). “The more we can use the past to deal with current issues, the better. Education is very important. And it’s important for all of us, regardless of race, creed, or color, to participate in this story. If it is not visible and seen, the history does not exist.”
Asked what people can do to help bring the Shadows Fall North stories to light, Boggis and PBHT founder/ historian Valerie Cunningham—who were both consulting producers on the film with filmmakers Brian and Nancy Vawter—noted that the PBHT offers an educational curriculum on Black history in Portmouth, as well as ongoing events and conferences—details can be found on their website “Let’s not forget that everybody is affected by racism,” said Cunningham. “It’s not just African Americans, it’s all people who are affected by this history. It’s the American story.”
Said filmmaker Nancy Vawter, “Our goal is to get this collective history, although uncomfortable, into the classrooms to educate future generations.” Added Brian Vawter: “These stories can also inspire us to recognize what more we can do that’s right, like the African Burying Ground, and what we can do next.”
Rather than reacting defensively about the difficult truths of history, the Music Hall audience evidenced solidarity and a renewed sense of community as they continued their post-show conversations. “It was so moving to be in that beautiful theater and feel the collective response to the film happening in real time around us,” said Katie Umans, Assistant Director, Center for the Humanities, UNH. “It’s something I will not soon forget!”