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Give Me Liberty

A documentary about The Anderson Family Reunion born of the slave legacy of Patrick Henry. In a culture hell-bent on erasing African American history, "Give Me Liberty" is a testament to the strength of a family determined to stay together through generations of adversity.

  • Nathan James
    Director
  • Nathan James
    Producer
  • Stephen Washington
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    3 minutes 51 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 1, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    7,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    B-raw
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Nathan James

Nathan is a proud native of Pittsburgh where he began his acting career with Kuntu Repertory Theater. He received a B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh, and an M.F.A from Penn State University where he also served as an instructor in the Fundamentals of Acting. His is one man play, Growing Pains, has been produced at The August Wilson Center for African American Culture, The United Solo Theater Festival (Theatre Row NYC), and various theaters and festivals around the United States. Nathan is one of seven playwrights of The New Black Fest’s HANDS UP: 7 Playwrights, 7 Testaments (Seven ten-minute plays following the shooting of Mike Brown). Hands Up was featured in American Theater Magazine, and Nathan’s play, Superiority Fantasy, was chosen as BBC Radio’s Play of the Week. In the spring of 2014, he won 1st place at Amateur Night at the Apollo with an original poem. His original poetry can also be heard on the soundtrack of the EMMY Award nominated documentary, Torch Bearers.

Film/TV credits: Standing Up, Falling Down (Tilted Windmill Productions), Madam Secretary (CBS), Shades of Blue (NBC), Quantico (ABC), The Wire (HBO), Deception (ABC), Blindspot (NBC), VINYL (HBO), Person of Interest (CBS), Blue Bloods (CBS), The Path (Hulu), Service to Man (STARZ).

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Director Statement

In a culture hell-bent on erasing African American history, "Give Me Liberty" is a testament to the strength of a family determined to stay together through generations of adversity. It's about turning something ugly into something beautiful, preserving our rich heritage and legacy.

But this film is about more than just our family. It's about reuniting families, about cherishing our loved ones before it's too late. It's about the importance of knowing ourselves and our country's history, passed down through generations.

Through "Give Me Liberty," I aim to inspire other descendants of American slavery to reconnect with their roots, to find a base where they belong. Our family legacy is a beacon of hope, a testament to the importance of family within the black community.

I made this film to combat apathy within my own family to continue our legacy, but I soon realized its importance extended far beyond our circle. It's about redefining what it means to be American, asking profound questions about identity and culture.

What is black? What is it to be American? These are the questions at the heart of our story. We confront racism, white supremacy, and economic disenfranchisement head-on, challenging narratives that seek to erase our history.