Documentary Film on the life of Maimi Lane Kirkland who experienced and survived racial terrorism and segregation but continued to have hope
Mamie Lane Kirkland was seven years old when she fled Ellisville, Mississippi in 1915 with her mother and siblings as her father and his friend, John Hartfield, escaped an approaching lynch mob. John Hartfield returned to Mississippi in 1919 and was killed in one of the most horrific lynchings of the era.
Mamie’s son, Tarabu, had grown up hearing stories of John Hartfield but didn’t know if his mother’s stories were fact or folklore until one day in 2015. Tarabu discovered an article describing Hartfield’s murder before a crowd of 10,000 spectators. At that moment, the film was born.
Mamie had vowed for a century that she would never return to Mississippi. Yet with Tarabu’s remarkable find, he urged his mother to finally confront her childhood trauma by returning to Ellisville. Mamie was 107 when they began the journey to connect her story to the larger impact of America’s legacy of racial violence, which echoes today from Ferguson to New York, Atlanta to Los Angeles. Like many of the six million African Americans who left the Deep South, Mamie’s story is a testament to the courage and hope of her generation. Her indomitable will and contagious joy of living is exceeded only by her ability to tell her story now 111 years later. In a time of great social divisions, ‘100 Years From Mississippi’ gives us the simple wisdom of an ordinary woman’s extraordinary life
More Events in Greater London Listings MORE
Deep Azure
Deep Azure is the UK premiere of Chadwick Boseman’s lyrical stage drama, presented in the intimate, candlelit surroundings…
6 African Leaders Removed by the French: Impact and Legacy
This powerful and eye-opening presentation, delivered by Black History Walks, explores the political, economic and cultural consequences of…
Daudi Matsiko + False Idah
Nottingham-based British–Ugandan singer-songwriter Daudi Matsiko returns to Kings Place with a new EP, Dead Bird Dream – a…
The Authenticator
In a major new commission for 2026, the National Theatre presents The Authenticator, a gripping gothic thriller by…
Julian Joseph at 60 Atmospheres in Audio Theatre 60
Julian Joseph, one of the most influential figures in British jazz, celebrates his 60th birthday with Atmospheres in…
Julian Joseph at 60: Atmospheres
Atmospheres marks a significant milestone in the life and career of Julian Joseph, one of the most influential…
State of the Nation: An Evening with Akala
State of the Nation: An Evening with Akala is a compelling talk and cultural conversation featuring Akala —…
The Music Is Black: A British Story – Exhibition
The Music Is Black: A British Story is a major cultural exhibition opening at V&A East Museum, offering…