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
The Authenticator
In a major new commission for 2026, the National Theatre presents The Authenticator, a gripping gothic thriller by…
Windrush Food Culture Exhibition
Explore the powerful story of Caribbean food and its lasting impact on Britain in Windrush Food Culture, a…
Inheriting the Future
Inheriting the Future is a major group exhibition at October Gallery bringing together new works by Zana Masombuka,…
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…
The Forgotten Pioneer: Britain’s First Black Newspaper Editor
Join the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Libraries for a special talk uncovering the life and legacy…
Tender
“Thank you for trusting us with your pleasure!” The Dancing Bears strip club is on life support….
Vula – Live at Ronnie Scott’s
Join acclaimed British singer Vula Malinga for a powerful live residency at the iconic Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club,…
Jocelyn Brown with Special Guest Rozalla
Join legendary soul and dance vocalist Jocelyn Brown for a powerful live performance at Hackney Empire, joined by…