Directed by Anthony Werhun (USA, 2021, 61 min.) Digital.

Curious chef Ashbell McElveen uncovers the story of James Hemings, America’s culinary founding father and enslaved property of Thomas Jefferson.

Filmmaker Q and A

Register for a Q and A session with the filmmakers on June 20 at 4:15 pm.

Q and A session is live-streamed using Zoom. To participate, you will be required to download Zoom.

The suggested start time for viewing this film is 2:20 pm in order to sync with the start of the Filmmaker Q and A.

Preceded by Short Films

Boxed

Directed by Wanjiru Njendu (USA, 2019, 6 min.) Digital.

This is a fictionalized short film based on the true story of the terrifying daring escape of Henry “Box” Brown, an enslaved man who used creativity to escape from slavery in 1849 by mailing himself to freedom.

The Other Madisons

Directed by Eduardo Montes-Bradley (USA, 2021, 40 min.) Digital.

In this documentary, Bettye Kearse traces her ancestry to Mandy, her family’s first African ancestor enslaved on American soil and who became the property of Montpelier, President James Madison’s estate in Virginia.

Discount

Rent 3 or more films in one transaction and get a $1 discount on each film.

Film Rental Information

This film cannot be rented outside the United States and is available to watch only during the period specified. Once rented, the film may be viewed on the Video Content page.