By Todd Gragg –
Two years ago, in 2022, Black In Asheville made its debut, shedding light on the rich and often overlooked Black history of Asheville, North Carolina.
Originally conceived as a short YouTube video, the project quickly evolved into a full-fledged documentary. This transformation was driven by the wealth of information and the willingness of the community to share their stories.
The journey began with a simple idea: create a short video highlighting key aspects of Asheville’s Black history. However, as research commenced and more people got involved, it became clear that a short film would not suffice. The depth and breadth of the stories uncovered demanded a longer format. What started as a modest project blossomed into a comprehensive documentary.
Black In Asheville takes us back to the Antebellum period, exposing what life was like for enslaved people in Asheville. The film explores the deplorable conditions of enslaved people during the Civil War and their transition to the Postbellum period of Reconstruction, Jim Crow, and Black Code Laws.
As enslaved people transitioned to freedmen after the Civil War, they continued to live a segregated existence filled with violent threats designed to control free Black people. Black In Asheville shows how the establishment of churches and schools was vital to the progression of Black life. It is important to tell these stories that history intentionally omitted, so that future generations are made aware of the many important contributions made by Blacks living in the region.
A film like Black In Asheville plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the rich and complex history of the Black community in Asheville is not forgotten. By capturing and sharing these powerful stories, the film acts as a crucial repository of collective memory, preserving the experiences, struggles, and triumphs of a…
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