Written by Leah, staff member, Woodlawn Public Library
The benefits of watching documentaries and docuseries are equivalent to that of reading non-fiction. They both help you see new perspectives and broaden your knowledge on featured topics. Exploring docuseries and documentaries promote self-guided learning. Haligonians can access and enjoy many documentary films through the Library’s free online resource, Kanopy; some of which I will share my personal thoughts on in this post.
Please note: The documentaries discussed here contain coarse language, sexual content, mature subject matter and scenes that may be triggering for some viewers. Some stories within these documentaries are very much a tragedy, but tragedies that need to be heard, because even though they may not be our experience, they offer a basis of learning for us.
Deeper perspectives: The Black Church
Documentaries can offer a deeper perspective on historical topics and how something came about. An example of this is the 2021 two-part docuseries: The Black Church: This is our Story, This is our Song. Based on the book by the same title, Henry Louis Gates Jr. conducts an in-person examination of The Black Church to provide answers of what it is, why it is vital to Black history, and how it came about.
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This docuseries speaks of American Black history and the roots of the American Black Church, but it's important to give credit to the (American) roots of the Black church for its influential presence within the churches of our 52 historic Black communities of Nova Scotia.
The emergence of The Black Church occurred at a time of oppression and slavery for Black people, both in the United States and Canada. Slavery was not abolished until the late 1800s in the USA, and 1834 in Canada. But the earliest forms of The Black Church can date back to the late 1700s. This speaks to the parallels between the occurrence of slavery and formation of The Black Church. Black people have succeeded in finding a sense of faith and blending it with African rooted culture to form a foundation for the church. The people are the Black church, and these very people who continue to face systemic racism 190 years after slavery abolition have upheld the Black Church. The Black Church continues to prevail worldly injustices while proving itself to be a vital element of the Black community, this docuseries illustrates this beautifully.
The Black Church has a long existence but has a duty to keep building on its history. My family has sought the Black Church through times of marriage, death, community trials and celebrations. The Black Church will continue to thrive but only if it meets the people where they are at. As mentioned in this docuseries, The Black Church has fallen short in achieving victory over environmental racism, and with establishing relationships with Black 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. At a time when Black people were still enslaved, a man named George Whitfield fought for every Black person to have freedom to worship and pray without diminution; this was not a demonstration of white power, this was an early demonstration of allyship! So where is The Black Church’s allyship around the 2SLGBTQIA+ community? The Black Church is not done, and I trust it will continue to evolve to being inclusive of all people. I recommend you check out this book for elaboration on Black Church-2SLGBTQIA+ relations.
Revolutions, recorded: Stonewall
Next up on Kanopy, be sure to check out the 2010 documentary Stonewall Uprising.
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This documentary speaks about the gay revolution and the vital series of events that ushered the way for modern day gay rights. Quoted in this First Run Features film is the following profound opening statement: “In 1969, homosexual acts were illegal in every state except Illinois.”
It’s important to note that in the 1960s, homosexuality was commonly claimed as a psychiatric issue rooted in promiscuity. Individuals who became known for their homosexuality were stripped of government, teaching and military jobs, with their licenses revoked. Law enforcement, and the general public relished in the power that came from a system of vocational oppression placed on the queer community, crushing any professional dreams and goals anyone might have. Such oppressive acts were not only allowed to exist, but were expected to exist; gay people at the time were not protected under any constitution or U.S amendments. Instinctively, gay bars became a hub for gay people.
The Stonewall (Inn), a notable gay bar in the Greenwich Village of Manhattan, New York became a hub for all gay people. Stonewall became a place of gathering for a people who were targeted at every turn; during the 1960s gay people were captured for institutionalization for a series of unethical treatments for homosexuality. From simulations of drowning to electric shock therapy, many individuals who survived institutional torment lived the remainder of their lives disabled, in vegetative states. A primary institution that carried out such heinous acts is the Atascadero, of Atascadero, California - this was commonly compared to a German concentration camp for gay people. Greenwich Village became a space that demanded safety and lack of judgment through the enthrallment of the 1960’s social climate. I recommend you read further about this in the book that inspired this documentary: Stonewall: the Riots that Sparked the Gay Revolution.
Beneath the surface: Homelessness
Greenwich Village publication, The Village Voice and the Oscar Wilde Bookshop prioritized resources and a positive light for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. These waves of activism throughout Greenwich Village have been crucial in positive American 2SLGBTQIA+ events, but they have also positively influenced the Canadian 2SLGBTQIA+ community. While Greenwich Village became a focal point for all things gay, it also became a hunting territory authorized by law enforcement. Greenwich Village, being in New York, was a spot for tourism and therefore political and legal authorities made it a point to ‘clean up’ the streets of Greenwich Village. This motive suggested gay individuals were more criminous by the moment with an unending list of crimes to justify violence and arrests against the queer community.
The events at Stonewall made history because they saw a group of targeted individuals who demonstrated united resistance June 28th, 1969. It goes without saying that marginalized communities are no stranger to violence, police brutality, and mistrust in law enforcement. This is also often the case with encampment communities and individuals experiencing homelessness. Continued police dominance over those living on the streets has kept underground communities such as ‘The Mole Community’ going as a goal to avoid law enforcement presence. You can further learn about this in the 2000 documentary titled Dark Days: A Homeless Community Beneath the Subway Tunnels of NYC.
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For those who have little to no knowledge of the challenges homeless communities face, I recommend they watch this documentary. This documentary is a New York based American tale with a male-heavy focus, it is centered on homeless communities within underground tunnels. That said, it does reveal the health and safety concerns, substance use and abuse connection, employment, food and resource barriers often faced by those experiencing homelessness. For the NYC mole community, some specific examples of these are: no running water, rat presence, constant darkness and drug dependency; the documentary discloses that 80% of the mole population are drug dependent. In such an environment, this short recorded insight considers social isolation vs. community, and kinlessness vs. animal companionship. I am a witness to the power both of these aspects have on those experiencing homelessness; having a community and animal companionship can truly provide quality within a life that is trying day-to-day. Patterns become habits, and habits become routine but it doesn’t necessarily mean the ‘trying’ gets any easier. Many individuals become comfortable in their minds with being homeless long-term, but that doesn’t provide physical comfort.
Equitable health services should be available to those experiencing homelessness and their pets too. There is (sometimes) help to be had in accessing pet food and in some places, animal care; an example of this is The Street Dog Coalition., opens a new window Today, in 2024, people still reside in subway tunnels around the world. For further exploration on what life is like for them, I recommend you read Anthony Horton’s personal account illustrated as a graphic novel, in collaboration with artist, Youme Landowne.
Insights and preservation: Indigenous communities
There is a consistency of grief and trauma among homeless communities as displayed in the 2019 film, And Now We Rise.
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This short documentary explores the life and work of Samuel Johns. I enjoy Samuel's story because he is an individual who has taken his art of music and used it for community activism and impact. He has used lyrics and rap as a weapon against continued cultural genocide, and as a buffer in preserving education, family life, music, dance, etc. within Alaskan Native communities. Throughout his community outreach, Samuel tells stories of his proud Athabascan roots; this film allows viewers to become culturally aware of concerns that may be quite specific to Indigenous communities. An example of this is fly-in indigenous communities, which are built on the rich culture of numerous Indigenous identities but they remain costly in outside travel and limited in food and healthcare resources, etc.
Samuel has achieved peace in being an artist whose focus is the people first; activism and art is like a cake with the frosting on top, if one can take activism and elevate it with art, it provides opportunities that many other artists are never met with. If someone is an artist and has never outreached their hand to (their) community, they are limiting their opportunities for art. So, it should be more appropriately said that if one can take art, and elevate art with activism, rather, they are achieving something most honourable. Activism is the frosting, it’s the sweet part of it, and it's extra work but can often be one of the most enjoyable parts of being an artist.
Barbara J. Atwater is a literary artist to read in support of Alaskan Indigenous voices; consider exploring her Alaskan Dena'ina Fable How Raven Got His Crooked Nose.
How Raven Got His Crooked Nose
Knowledge-entwined experiences
It goes without saying Kanopy has an impressive documentary selection; there are countless films to choose from that offer a conscious, intentional provoking of thought and perspective. If you want a knowledge-entwined movie experience, watch a documentary.
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