African American Service to Country
African American Service to Country is a poignant film series that unfurls the diversity of military service, from the Westward expansion to the battlefields of Afghanistan. It begins with George Jordan, a Buffalo Soldier whose heroism against Apache resistances lays the groundwork for the series' introspective journey. The narrative then swings to the syncopated rhythms of Noble Sissle, whose music sowed the seeds of Europe's fascination with Black culture. Amidst the explosive tensions of Port Chicago, the series exposes the bitter ironies of equality within the ranks. The women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion emerge next, overcoming racial and gender barriers to keep hope alive through letters during WWII. A nonagenarian Montford Point Marine's reflections weave through three wars, embodying the sacrifices obscured by segregation. The Montford Point Marine legacy continues through a granddaughter in the Army, confronting modern warfare's shadows in Afghanistan. Finally, a military chaplain's odyssey of faith and service anchors the series, encouraging a mosaic of spirituality and racial harmony. Together, these stories not only honor the unheralded contributions of African American servicemen and women but also challenge us to acknowledge and cherish a multifaceted heritage wrought in resilience and unity.
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Buffalo Soldiers: George Jordan and the Indian Wars
Directed by Joshua Cardenas
Buffalo Soldiers: George Jordan and the Indian Wars is a poignant examination of the marginalized history of the Buffalo Soldiers - African American servicemen who bravely served in numerous conflicts, only to face scorn, ridicule, and suppression of their stories bac...
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Noble Sissle's Syncopated Ragtime
Directed by Daniel Leonard Bernardi
Combining footage unseen since WWI with original scores from the era, this film tells the story of Noble Sissle's incredible journey that spans "The Harlem Hell Fighters" of World War I, Broadway Theatre, the Civil Rights movement, and decades of Black cultura...
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Remembering Port Chicago
Directed by Alexander Zane Irwin
In California's Bay Area, a painful memory lingers of the Port Chicago disaster of WWII, when hundreds of the Navy's first Black Sailors perished, and the White officers in charge were protected by the chain of command.
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Black Woman & WWII: The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion
Directed by Gina Gelphman
In the midst of World War II, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-female African-American unit, undertook the monumental task of sorting and delivering a massive backlog of mail for the U.S. military. Despite facing deplorable working conditions and th...
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You Don't Know Jack: A Montford Point Marine
Directed by Daniel Leonard Bernardi
In this compelling short film, we follow the life of a Montford Point Marine as he reflects on his experiences and the challenges he faced as an African American in the Marine Corps. Set against the backdrop of racial segregation and the horrors of war, the fi...
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The Chaplain: MAJ Brenda Threatt
Directed by Jesse Collier Sutterley
In a profound exploration of faith, service, and identity, this documentary film follows Brenda Elizabeth Threatt, an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and a military chaplain in the California State Guard. Born in Los Angeles, Threat...
