by Sheila Jackson, Chief Storyteller, Oyster Knife History Studio
I never dreamed that I would ever be able to refer to myself as a historian. As a young girl, I hated history class, where so-called significant moments in our past were marked by the dates of world wars and treaties. Fast forward to much later, I was asked by a friend to propose and write a book about Augusta Savage - an artist from the Harlem Renaissance. Augusta trained the likes of Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence and so many others. With that project came my first book. History became my jam, as it unfolded to me through biography. I co-authored two biography collections that brought together the stories of dozens of individuals to tell the larger story of an era.
I see this film festival in the same way - as an opportunity to share the stories of individuals and communities that expose our collective history. We have more in common than we know. In a time when history is being overlooked, erased, and misrepresented, the telling of our stories is imperative. If we don't tell our stories, it's as if we never existed.
I am happy to announce A Day in the Sun, a film festival that celebrates and honors the journeys of people dedicated to freedom, equality, civil and human rights. I have brought together an incredible team to curate a selection that awakens new audiences to the contributions and experiences of diverse cultures and communities.
I relish the opportunity to bring a new perspective into the film festival space, and to provide a platform for diverse writers, producers, directors and other creatives to be seen and to showcase the stories that matter.
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