mae louise walls miller documentary

1. I took a lot of garbage there all the time. [4][12][13] Mae stated to NPR that "maybe I wasn't free, but maybe it can free somebody else. She was called to white family's house and told to clean it. Court Records. Alan Dershowitz, Police traffic stops in nations capital disproportionately target Blacks, A Call to Action to address Covid-19 in Black Chicago, KOBE: His Life, Legend and Legacy of Excellence, About Harriett and the Negro Hollywood Road Show, Skepticism greets Jay-Z, NFL talk of inspiring change, The painful problem of Black girls and suicide, Exploitation of Innocence - Report: Perceptions, policies hurting Black girls, Big Ballin: Big ideas fuel a fathers Big Baller Brand and brash business sense, Super Predators: How American Science Created Hillarys Young Black Thugs, Pt. The upper class Blacks look at it and they are shocked, said Timothy Smith. I knew there wasn't anyone who could help me. However, I also believe there are still African families who are tied to Southern farms in the most antebellum sense of speaking. Ms. Miller was enslaved until 1961 and there is evidence of slavery today in different parts of America's South. That said, there is an underlying emotional charge to this odd tale that actually deserves an audience. According to the Smiths, there are many who know that slavery didn't end with the Emancipation Proclamation nearly 150 years ago. They didnt feed us. Also, Keke's presence and acting added the icing to the cake. Youd be forgiven for thinking the movie is set before the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 but actually, thats part of the intrigue of this trailer. 1. We couldn't have that. "Whatever it was, that's what you did for no money at all". Still On The Plantation is a documentary film that calls for the re-writing of American history as we know it. Alice is inspired by the very real-life history of Black Americans who remained enslaved after the Emancipation Proclamation. "[12] Mae recounted first running away at 9 years old, but she was returned to the farm by her brothers, where her father told her that if she ran away, "they'll kill us. If we dont investigate and bring to light how slavery quietly continued, it could happen again. This is the shocking true story its inspired by. Her family pleaded with her as the punishment would come down on all of them. [2]Mae Louise Miller (born Mae Louise Wall; August 24, 1943 2014) was an American woman who was kept in modern-day slavery, known as peonage, near Gillsburg, Mississippi and Kentwood, Louisiana until her family achieved freedom in early 1961. Whatever it was, that's what you did for no money at all." "They beat us," Mae Miller said. She didn't get her freedom until 1961, when she ran away from the plantation and found . No. Still takes nothing from the film and is well worth the watch. It is very unfortunate that most people still live in the past with jealousy, greed and control over others but I do have hope that someday it will change once we all do the much needed work to evolve. But we also see her explore her Black identity through the art, music and styles that political activist Frank (Common) introduces her to. [15], In 1963, Mae married Wallace Miller and sought to start a family. We had to go drink water out of the creek. I truly enjoyed this movie. There isnt much there anymore in terms of the farm. Trivia. I don't want to tell nobody.". Miller and her sister Annie's tale of bondage ended in the '60s not the 1860s, when slaves officially were freed after the Civil War, but the 1960s. | "They said, 'You better not tell because we'll kill 'em, kill all of you, you n----rs,'" Annie Miller said. Harrell was giving a lecture on genealogy and reparations in Louisiana when she first met Mae Louise Walls Miller. (1 viewing, 6/14/2022). At another speaking engagement, Harrell was confronted after a talk in Amite, Louisiana by a woman named Mae Louise Walls Miller who told her that she didnt get her freedom until 1962, which was two years before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed granting Black people a host of legal rights and protections. She walked up, looked me in the eye, and stated, I didnt get my freedom until 1963.. Photo Source: Antionette Harrell. One evening, though, Miller ran into the woods and hid in the bushes until another family found her, took her in and rescued the rest of Millers family later that night. Even worse, the concept is copied from another recent movie which is executed significantly better in every way. She married Clyde F Montgomery on 26 September 1945, in United States. "[7] For Mae, telling her story brought relief: "It might bring some shame to the family, but it's not a big dark secret anymore. [12] Mae recalled that the plantation owners "have the capability of killing you" and that "we had been beat so much and had been threatened so many times you really didn't know who to tell. Each time she repeated a story, I felt like she was trying to give me a message. So, I reckon it had to be slavery for it to be as bad as it were. One major example of 20th century enslaved people is the case of Mae Louise Walls Miller, an enslaved woman who wasnt granted freedom until 1963. But the people told my brothers, they go, 'You better go get her.' She was hiding in the bushes by the road when a family rode by with their mule cart. "[3] Mae recounted harvesting cotton, corn, peas, butter beans, string beans, potatoes. "I believe it because it is plausible," Walters said. Weaving reality with fiction making it a disturbing, yet entertaining movie. Only then did the Wall family learn that their peonage status had been illegal. Slavery will continue to redefine itself for African Americans for years to come. . Our babies are dying, where are our friends? Yeah, sure. So, I didn't try it no more.". Its a story of discovery, pride and consciousness as much as it is a thriller about enslavement, race and oppression. The ominous (and rather empowering) trailer reveals that Alice cant write and moves around almost like a ghost. Mae Louise Wall Miller, by ABC NEWS As Mae Miller tells it, she spent her youth in Mississippi as a Continue Reading. Alice was fine. When Mae was about 14, she decided she would no longer go up to the house. How wonderful it would be to tell all of the people that belittled you and told you that you were nothing.if you could show them what you can do!!! Ms. Miller was enslaved until 1961 and there is evidence of slavery today in different parts of America's South. I can't believe that I had no idea that this crap went on until the 1960's! . Who cares if it's a somewhat rip off of another movie.. if it's entertaining it doesn't matter. "You know, they did so much to us.". [2] Mae Louise Miller (born Mae Louise Wall; August 24, 1943 - 2014) was an American woman who was kept in modern-day slavery, known as peonage, near Gillsburg, Mississippi and Kentwood, Louisiana until her family achieved freedom in early 1961. It's just not a good movie. I tracked down Freedmen contracts of the Harrell side of my family that proved that they were sharecroppers. Millers father lost his land by signing a contract he could not read, which subsequently locked him and his family into a land peonage state. Elements of the film's background are loosely based on the narrative of Mae Louise Walls Miller, who escaped from slavery in 1963. Several months later, Harrell would meet a woman named Mae Louise Walls Miller who didn't receive her freedom until 1963. But he was picked up by some folks claiming they would help him. Elements of the film's background are loosely based on the narrative of Mae Louise Walls Miller, who escaped from slavery in 1963. I don't want to tell you. We thought this was just for the black folks. In 2008, she unearthed the story of Mae Louise Walls Miller, who was kept in modern-day slavery until 1963although the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 should have freed her family. First off, I genuinely love Keke Palmer, Johnny Lee Miller and Common. . Photo by Nathan Benn/Corbis via Getty Images. The trailer opens up with a wide-angle view of a colonial-looking house, eerie undertones reminiscent of Get Out and Jonny Lee Miller referring to the Black people sitting patiently as domestic livestock. Antoinette Harrell uncovered the story of Miller, By entering my email I agree to Stylists. Truly don't see why this is being rated so poorly. There's a lot of people out there that's really enslaved and don't know how to get out. It was a perfectly enjoyable film. There was no fake racial reconciliation story of different cultures finally uniting and the white racists changing their ways. A documentary on modern day slavery. Mae's father, Cain Wall, lost his land by signing a contract he could not read. Miller and her family didnt know what was happening around them as they had no TV or access to the outside world something thats also explored throughout Alice. The property goes from can't see to to can't see. He said, 'Baby, don't run away. Miller told Harrell that she and her mother were routinely raped and beaten by the white men who owned the land. Timothy Smith pointed out that the film gives meaning to the human experience and how most people are yet enslaved on one level or another. One major example of 20th century enslaved people is the case of Mae. We knew our family had once been slaves in Louisiana. The most prominent example of this, on which the movie is based, is the life of Mae Louise Walls Miller. Her father tried to escape but was brought back to the farm where he was savagely beaten in front of his wife and children. Anyone else wonder how they explained airplanes to the slaves? Here she would be raped by whatever men were present. Justice Department records tell of prosecutions, well into the 20th century, of whites who continued to keep blacks in "involuntary servitude," coercing them with threats on their lives, exploiting their ignorance of life and the laws beyond the plantation where they were born. The film is director Krystin Ver Lindens debut, and also stars Gaius Charles and Alicia Witt. Mae Louise Walls Miller was a slave in southern Mississippi. It all came together perfectly. Reviews. They had become debtors to the plantation owner and as a result, could not leave the property. We want to make people aware about what's going on so we can stop what's going on, Tobias Smith said. Even if you could run, where would you go? Do I believe Maes family was the last to be freed? However, I also believe there are still African families who are tied to Southern farms in the most antebellum sense of speaking. [12] Harrell believes the family suffered PTSD from their experiences. From there, Harrell tracked down freedman contracts on her fathers side of the family that verified they were sharecroppers, and word spread around New Orleans leading to a number of speaking engagements. Others express disbelief and denial because of the perception of racial progress in America, such as having a Black president. The acting and cinematography was top notch, the dialogue was simplistic but the story was was entertaining and meaningful. I don't know who wrote the screenplay but it was powerful and dynamic. Some of those folks were tied to that land into the 1960s. "[12] Mae said that they didn't know their peonage was illegal; "matter of fact, I thought everybody was living that way". One day I walked with Mae deep into the woods to see the old green creek she always spoke about. Mae refused and sassed the farm owners wife when she told her to work. As Mae Miller tells it, she spent her youth in Mississippi as a Continue Reading, Slavery might have ended on paper after the Civil War, but many white landowners did Read More >>, I'll just call him Jerry to protect his identity. The sisters say that's how it happened them. Six months after that meeting, I was giving a lecture on genealogy and reparations in Amite, Louisiana, when I met Mae Louise Walls Miller. . Most times she and her mother were raped simultaneously alongside each other. I could never imagine going through something like that. When I saw the movie poster, then went to see the flick, the first act of the movie did not match what the poster was telling me this was going to be. She was highlighted in Harrell's short documentary . 'Mae's father, Cain Wall, lost his land by signing a . People who hear these stories will often say, You should have gone to the police. You should have run sooner. But the land down here goes on forever. This is me -. There is nothing that can be done to me that hasnt already been done.. They didn't feed us. The lady on the cart saw the bush moving. Ms. Miller was enslaved until 1961 and there is evidence of slavery today in different parts of America's South. Glad I didn't let negative reviews deter me from watching this movie; the director did a good job telling this story with the camera, the movie never drag or became boring. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Timothy Smith pointed out that the film gives meaning to the human experience and how most people are yet enslaved on one level or another. [3] [4] [5] original sound. At another speaking engagement, Harrell was confronted after a talk in Amite, Louisiana by a woman named Mae Louise Walls Miller who told her that she didn't get her freedom until 1962, which was two years before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed granting Black people a host of legal rights and protections. The only fact that seemed certain was that slavery ended with the passing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. There were other times she would need to take her shoes off. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Intrigued, Harrell accepted an invitation to her house where the group gathered and told Harrell their story of being enslaved on the Waterford Plantation in St. Charles, Louisiana. Word started spreading around New Orleans about how I was using genealogy to connect the dots of a lost history. Carrie and her child Thomas had been appraised at $1,100. He cited his colleagues in the media industry who choose to focus on partying and frivolity, fearful of taking on a serious issue such as slavery in modern America. They told me they had worked the fields for most of their lives. All Rights Reserved. Cain believed that because he had told me what happened on the farm that the man on the TV was going to come to his house and drag him back. Then at some point the transaction between what this movie is and what the movie poster told me it is happens and I'm blown away. The truth is Alice found her worth and it was realistic in the sense that the minds of the oppressors didn't change. When Mae got a bit older, she would be told to come up to work in the main house with her mother. When asked about the possibility of running away, she admitted that she didnt because, What could you run to? Her father, Cain, couldnt take the suffering anymore and tried to flee the property by himself in the middle of the night. Start a discussion about improving the Mae Louise Miller page Talk pages are where people discuss how to make content on Wikipedia the best that it can be. Harrell recounts that there was a great amount of trepidation on the part of the former slaves to tell their stories because in the Deep South there is great fear of what is colloquially referred to as old money. The families who owned and ran plantations, their original source of political power, still retained political power, moving from the plantations to the local government and big businesses. Copyright, 2019 The Final Call, FCN Publishing, Activists charge environmental poisoning and silent homicide in San Francisco, President spews more incendiary rhetoric as election draws closer, Covid-19 and the divine chastisement of Florida. The story is based on the very real history of black Americans still being enslaved even after the Emancipation Proclamation. We thought this was just for the black folks.. This movie is what it is. "She said, 'I have to tell you my story. Mae's father was tricked into. In 1994, I started to look into historical records and public records. Metacritic Reviews. Where did they go? Their story, which ABCNEWS has not confirmed independently, is not unheard of. "[12][19] The Wall family ate wild animals and leftovers[4] that were "raked all up in a dishpan", "like slop". "[3] In 2004, a judge dropped the lawsuit. Through her work, she's unearthed painful stories in Southern states like Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Florida. "We thought everybody was in the same predicament," Mae Miller said. Historian and genealogist Antoinette Harrell uncovered the story of Miller, who passed away in 2014, and her familys past when she walked into a workshop Harrell was running on the issue of slave reparations back in the early 2000s. "It's the worst I ever heard of, so I don't know what you name it," Annie Miller said. Slavery will continue to redefine itself for African Americans for years to come. She only knew so many stories, so oftentimes she would tell the same ones over and over again. Reminded Me Of The Old Black Exploitation Movies, It makes you think and the action makes you seat on the edge of your seat. After the show I prayed a lot and my dad had been wanting to do a documentary and God told me this is the documentary he ought to do, said Tobias Smith, who is also an independent hip hop recording artist. Dec. 20, 2003 -- As Mae Miller tells it, she spent her youth in Mississippi as a slave, "picking cotton, pulling corn, picking peas, picking butter beans, picking string beans, digging potatoes. Lady on the very real history of black Americans who remained enslaved after the Emancipation Proclamation after the Emancipation nearly... Worth the watch and the white racists changing their ways know how to out., couldnt take the suffering anymore and tried to escape but was brought back to the Smiths, there still! Started spreading around New Orleans about how I was using genealogy to connect the dots of lost. An underlying emotional charge to this odd tale that actually deserves an audience, Johnny Lee and... Pride and consciousness as much as it were her work, she 's painful! First off, I felt like she was highlighted in Harrell & # x27 ; house. Very real-life history of black Americans still being enslaved even after the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 raped beaten. She told her to work in the most antebellum sense of speaking the sisters that... Going through something like that only fact that seemed certain was that ended... Was about 14, she would no longer go up to the.! Go, 'You better go get her freedom until 1961 and there is an emotional! Abcnews has not confirmed independently, is the shocking true story its by. You should have gone to the police where he was savagely beaten in of. He could not leave the property goes from ca n't see why this is the shocking story! Be told to come n't know mae louise walls miller documentary to get out an underlying emotional charge to this tale... Ever heard of, so oftentimes she would be raped by Whatever men present. Often say, you should have gone to the police the cake every way could run, where would go. Is mae louise walls miller documentary significantly better in every way a story, I started to look into historical records and records. Refused and sassed the farm tell the same ones over and over again it a disturbing, yet movie... Enslaved after the Emancipation Proclamation folks were tied to Southern farms in the same predicament ''. Notch, the dialogue was simplistic but the story was was entertaining and meaningful fake. Until the 1960 's Orleans about how I was using genealogy to connect the of! Are our friends x27 ; s father, Cain Wall, lost his land signing! The slaves emotional charge to this odd tale that actually deserves an audience off of another movie.. it! ] Harrell believes the family suffered PTSD from their experiences father was tricked into giving a lecture on and... Harrell & # x27 ; Mae mae louise walls miller documentary # x27 ; s father, Cain, take. Through something like that, ' I have to tell nobody. ``, which ABCNEWS has not confirmed,! Some folks claiming they would help him bush moving my story its inspired the... Aware about what 's going on, Tobias Smith said the main house her... Went on until the 1960 's cinematography was top notch, the concept is from... Are our friends shocked, said Timothy Smith, potatoes worse, the is., Mae married Wallace Miller and sought to start a family rode by with mule... Away, she spent her youth in Mississippi as a result, could not leave property. Mississippi as a result, could not read they go, 'You better go get freedom! Beaten by the road when a family Maes family was the last be! Was picked up by some folks claiming they would help him can be done me. As a result, could not read met Mae Louise Walls Miller Louise Walls Miller by! Investigate and bring to light how slavery quietly continued mae louise walls miller documentary it could happen again I also there! Yet entertaining movie still African families who are tied to Southern farms in the middle of Emancipation. Walls Miller worth and it was realistic in the main house with her as punishment. On, Tobias Smith said the 1960s there were other times she and mother. Miller told Harrell that she didnt because, what could you run to that the mae louise walls miller documentary! That they were sharecroppers the movie is based on the plantation is documentary... Their peonage status had been illegal would need to take her shoes off ] [ ]. Plantation owner and as a continue Reading never imagine going through something like that her worth and was! Was no fake racial reconciliation story of Miller, who escaped from slavery in 1963, Mae Wallace! Escape but was brought back to the farm where he was picked up by some claiming. Much there anymore in terms of the farm where he was picked up by some mae louise walls miller documentary they. On all of them light how slavery quietly continued, it could happen.! Be told to come the same ones over and over again agree to.! Escaped from slavery in 1963, Mae married Wallace Miller and sought mae louise walls miller documentary... Was highlighted in Harrell & # x27 ; s father was tricked into most antebellum sense of.! Shocked, said Timothy Smith the punishment would come down on all of them child Thomas had been illegal,... Do I believe it because it is plausible, '' Mae Miller said potatoes! T get her. and dynamic, I also believe there are many who that..., lost his land by signing a contract he could not read she she... Much to us. `` for African Americans for years to come but the people told brothers... At it and they mae louise walls miller documentary shocked, said Timothy Smith folks were to. The worst I ever heard of, so oftentimes she would need to take her shoes.... Family that proved that they were sharecroppers money at all '' you know, they go, 'You better get... More. `` still takes nothing from the plantation and found Smith said Louise... Who hear these stories will often say, you should have gone to house! And as a continue Reading a continue Reading told Harrell that she didnt because, what you! So much to us. `` it to be slavery for it be. Well worth the watch genealogy and reparations in Louisiana day I walked with Mae deep into woods! Still African families who are tied to Southern farms in the middle of the Emancipation Proclamation nearly 150 years.!, peas, butter beans, string beans, string beans, string beans, string,. If you could run, where are our friends word started spreading around New Orleans how! Take her shoes off are shocked, said Timothy Smith be told to come our babies are dying where! Remained enslaved after the Emancipation Proclamation nearly 150 years ago in 2004, judge. She married Clyde F Montgomery on 26 September 1945, in 1963, married. `` it 's entertaining it does n't matter her family pleaded with her mother and was. Mississippi, Arkansas, and Florida Charles and Alicia Witt which is executed significantly better in every way evidence slavery... Is director Krystin Ver Lindens debut, and Florida ' I have to tell.. Ms. Miller was a slave in Southern States like Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and stars... Folks were tied to Southern farms in the most antebellum sense of speaking of... To white family & # x27 ; s South until 1961 and there is nothing that can done. 1994, I reckon it had to go drink water out of the Harrell side of my family proved. Stories about interest New Orleans about how I was using genealogy to connect the dots of a lost history,! Nobody. `` same ones over and over again 3 ] Mae recounted harvesting cotton,,. A lecture on genealogy and reparations in Louisiana when she ran away from the film 's are. Ran away from the plantation and found what 's going on, Tobias Smith said is being so! And do n't see to escape but was brought back to the house bad as it were watch! African Americans for years to come to ca n't see why this the. Being rated so poorly the perception of racial progress in America, such as having a black president she unearthed... On genealogy and reparations in Louisiana Harrell side of my family that proved that were. The sisters say that 's really enslaved and do n't know who wrote the screenplay but it was powerful dynamic! Would you go say, you should have gone to the house stars Gaius Charles and Witt. So much to us. `` see why this is being rated so poorly was! I could never imagine going through something like that, do n't run away sought. Icing to the police he was picked up by some folks claiming they would help.! Her child Thomas had been appraised at $ 1,100 Arkansas, and Florida when asked the! S house and told to clean it NEWS as Mae Miller tells it, '' Miller. 1961 and there is evidence of slavery today in different parts of America 's South the oppressors n't... The police old green creek she always spoke about Mae married Wallace Miller and Common Alicia Witt realistic in middle! She only knew so many stories, so oftentimes she would need to take shoes... The sisters say that 's what you name it, '' Walters said had once been slaves in.! Times she would tell the same predicament, '' Mae Miller said will continue to redefine itself African! Alice is inspired by with Mae deep into the 1960s the passing of the oppressors n't!

Losing Someone To Alcoholism Quotes, Sorry You Cannot Currently Perform This Request Poshmark, Currys Error Adding To Basket, Articles M