Most of the deacons were veterans of world war ii and the korean war. Jan 29, 2014 a year before the publication of the book, the deacons were the subject of a 2003 made for television movie, deacons for defense. This is a simplistic account of how the deacons for defense came about. Based on a story by michael dantonio, the teleplay was written by richard wesley and frank military the film is loosely based on the activities of the deacons.
The words black power bring back memories of names like stokely carmichael, h. Deacons for defense internet movie firearms database guns. Inspired by a true story, this drama is set in 1965, not long after passage of the civil rights act. Based on a story by michael dantonio, the teleplay was written by richard wesley and frank military. States that refuses to recognize a black mans truth worth and self dignity. Historically, the organizationpracticed self defense methods in the face of racist oppression that was carried out under the jim crow lawsby local. Watch deacons for defense starring forest whitaker in this drama on directv. Deacons for defense is a 2003 american television drama film directed by bill duke. The deacons for defense and justice is an armed africanamerican self defense group founded in november 1964, during the civil rights era in the united states, in the mill town of jonesboro, louisiana. Historically, the organization practiced self defense methods in the face of racist oppression that was carried out under the jim crow laws by localstate government officials and racist vigilantes. Deacons of defense video i have experience the kind of hateful,abuse,mistreated and all kinds of harassments in the workplace. Deacons for defense is a fantastic and quiet possibly the best tvfilm ive seen.
A television movie, deacons for defense 2003, directed by bill duke and starring forest whitaker, was aired about the 1965 events in bogalusa. Many times the deacons are not written about or cited when. Deacons for defense and justice wikipedia republished. The africanamerican selfdefense organization was founded in february 1965 as an affiliate of the founding chapter in jonesboro, louisiana, to protect.
I didnt catch up with bob moses until 1964, when i joined the training staff for freedom summer. The deacons for defense is a welcome challenge to the nonviolent mythology and orthodoxy that serve as the basis of civil rights historys mater narrative. As gains were made and nonviolence became the accepted strategy, the deacons became marginalized, but continued as a. The deacons emerged as one of the first visible self defense forces in the and were effective in providing protection for local african americans who sought to register to vote and for white.
Despite the act, the africanamerican citizens of bogalusa are still treated like thirdclass citizens, their fundamental rights as human beings persistently trampled by the white power structure, in general, and the local branch of the kkk. The television film stars forest whitaker academy award winner, christopher britton, ossie davis, jonathan silverman, adam weiner, and marcus johnson. Deacons for defense provided protection when no one else would. Nominated outstanding performance by a male actor in a television movie or miniseries screen actors guild awards 2004 watch latest trailers. Deacons for defense and justice forgotten heroes of the. Deacons for defense and justice last updated january 02, 2020. On february 21, 1965the day of malcolm xs assassinationthe first affiliated chapter was founde. Deacons for defense is a 2003 american television drama film directed by. Although set in the deep south, the movie was actually shot in ontario using many.
Deacons for defense 2003 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. I was a black female and the whitemen didnt want me there. None of the movies about that time portray the extreme poverty, which was more like in the movie the color purple. The deacons active self defense garnered national media attention, and new chapters sprang up in arkansas, texas and illinois. Deacons for defense internet movie firearms database. Progun sentiment is often rooted in recreational hunting, or unlikely self defense scenarios, or the even more unlikely self defense against the government itself. What man would not defend his family and home from attack. With their largest and most famous chapter at the center of a bloody campaign in the ku klux klan. Deacons for defense 2003 cast and crew black militiamen organize their neighbors to help them fight members of the ku klux klan in louisiana.
The deacons and all other blacks who resort to self defense represent a simple answer to a simple question. Every person in the us nows the story of the civil rights era, martin luther king jr. Historically, the organization practiced self defense methods in the face of racist oppression that was carried out by jim crow laws. The film, produced by showtime stars academyaward winner forest. Usually, the deacons aimed to organize first where the klan was strongest. The deacons for defense and justice is an armed africanamerican selfdefense group. Deacons for defense tv movie 2003 deacons for defense. On february 21, 1965the day of malcolm xs assassinationthe first affiliated chapter was founded in bogalusa, louisiana, followed by a total of 20 other chapters in this state. Apr 17, 2012 still from the 2005 showtime movie deacons for defense, via imfdb. Watch deacons for defense online stream full movie directv. The deacons for defense and justice was an armed self defense africanamerican civil rights organization in the southern states during the 1960s.
Inspired by a true story, this madeforcable drama is set in 1965, not long after passage of the civil rights act. The deacons for defense and justice was founded in 1964 in jonesboro, louisiana to protect civil rights activists from the ku klux klan. Deacons for defense and justice wikipedia republished wiki 2. Bogalusa deacons for defense and justice robert hicks. In 1964 a clandestine armed self defense organization formed in the black community in jonesboro, louisiana, with the goal of protecting civil rights. On july 10, 1964, a group of african american men in jonesboro, louisiana led by earnest chilly willy thomas and frederick douglas kirkpatrick founded the group known as the deacons for defense and justice to protect members of the congress of racial equality core against ku klux klan violence. Deacons for defense is a 2003 showtime movie that was inspired by a true story of a group of african american citizens of bogalusa, louisiana, who took up arms to protect themselves from the kkk and the local law.
The deacons were one of the first visible self defense forces in the south and represented a new, more assertive face of the civil rights movement, notes. The africanamerican self defense organization was founded in february 1965 as an affiliate of the founding chapter in jonesboro, louisiana, to protect activists working with the congress for racial equality core, others advancing the civil rights movement, and their families. Oct 19, 2016 the deacons for defense and justice was founded in 1964 in jonesboro, louisiana to protect civil rights activists from the ku klux klan. Traditional civil rights organizations remained silent on them or repudiated their activities. In reality, it was a multistate movement and was actually started before the semifictionalized account in.
Serena lee in deacons for defense 2003 gene mack in deacons for defense. With forest whitaker, chris britton, jonathan silverman, ossie davis. Nov 19, 2007 the deacons emerged as one of the first visible self defense forces in the south and as such represented a new face of the civil rights movement. Nov 28, 2019 the deacons for defense and justice was an armed africanamerican self defense group founded in november 1964, during the civil rights era in the united states, in the mill town of jonesboro, louisiana. On february 21, 1965the day of malcolm xs assassinationthe first affiliated chapter was founded in bogalusa, louisiana, followed by a. Jul 24, 2019 the deacons for defense and justice was an armed self defense africanamerican civil rights organization in the southern states during the 1960s. The deacons recruited men of good moral character known for mature self control. Is deacons for defense 2003 movie streaming on netflix. Hills work blows the lid off that cover story, persuasively arguing that the will to coerce change rather than win consent from ones enemies is that eras real legacy. Bogalusa deacons for defense and justice an armed self defense group of african american men that protected civil rightsindividuals and organizations in theu.
Its available to watch on tv, online, tablets, phone. Nra members and nra patriotsthe deacons for defense and justice were true american heroes. The film stars forest whitaker, jonathan silverman and ossie davis and was directed by bill duke. From that day forward, said burris, we didnt have too many more problems. Fact based movie stars forest whitaker and ossie davis, the former as the founder. History will recall the deacons for defense, but there were probably many more without names that played a nonviolent self defense role.
The deacons for defense and justice were men who stood up for their community. The deacons for defense and justice had faced death and never. The story follows the formation of local black men. The deacons for defense university of north carolina press. The deacons for defense provided protection for people participating in protest marches in mississippi in 1966. On february 21, 1965the day of malcolm xs assassinationthe first affiliated chapter was founded in bogalusa, louisiana.
Deacons for defense and justice wikimili, the best. Armed resistance and the civil rights movement lance hill the deacons for defense and justice. The film is loosely based on the activities of the deacons for defense and justice in 1965 in bogalusa, louisiana. Deacons for defense tv movie 2003 deacons for defense tv. Telecast during black history month, deacons for defense first aired over the showtime cable network on february 16, 2003. A year before the publication of the book, the deacons were the subject of a 2003 made for television movie, deacons for defense. On february 21, 1965the day of malcolm xs assassinationthe first affiliated chapter was founded in bogalusa, louisiana, followed by a total of 20 other chapters in this state, mississippi. The deacons for defense and justice national archives. Americas 1st freedom deacons for defense and justice. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or instore pickup.
The deacons for defense and justice in louisiana the. Feb 06, 2016 the deacons were one of the first visible self defense forces in the south and represented a new, more assertive face of the civil rights movement, notes. The deacons for defense and justice was an armed self defense africanamerican civil rights organization in the u. Still from the 2005 showtime movie deacons for defense, via imfdb. Bob led the student nonviolent coordinating committees entry into mississippi in 1961, which meant three years of facing a repressive situation that makes the u. The deacons for defense in louisiana were such a group. The deacons for defense and justice was an armed africanamerican self defense group founded in november 1964, during the civil rights era in the united states, in the mill town of jonesboro, louisiana. Deacons for defense movie and program at sistas place on friday, february 5, 2016 at 7pm. The deacons for defense and justice is an armed self defense african american civil rights organization in the u. It does not take long for these disciplined union men and war veterans to form an organization of self defense that is willing and able to meet force with force the deacons for defense and justice. Dec 03, 2015 the deacons for defense and justice was an armed self defense africanamerican civil rights organization in the u.
Only watching the movie, though, gives the impression that the deacons were a local movement that never gained much traction outside of a single town in louisiana. In 1965 louisiana, an africanamerican man bristles at the racism and police brutality in his town and establishes a group to protect his community. Black militiamen organize their neighbors to help them fight members of the ku klux klan in louisiana. Only watching the movie, though, gives the impression that the deacons were a local movement that never gained much traction outside of a single town in. In 1964 a small group of african american men in jonesboro, louisiana, defied the nonviolence policy of the mainstream civil rights movement and formed an armed self defense organizationthe deacons for defense and justiceto protect movement workers from vigilante and police violence.
534 1359 115 536 812 859 1073 953 119 1013 1429 1106 273 1086 274 1262 1134 42 888 258 1365 1043 1089 292 390 1482 1185 917 488 74 1573 1332 141 1240 120 710 1179 1014