Review of A Binding Truth | The brutal truth about how slaves and their owners are profoundly bound

A Binding Truth

Cast: Jimmie Lee Kirkpatrick, H. De Kirkpatrick, Emma Peoples Smith, Harvey Gantt, Helen Schwab, Kelly Alexander Jr., Wendell John

4 Stars out of 5

Director:  Louise Woehrle

Duration: 1 hour, 32 minutes

Genre: Documentary

Language: English

Release Date: 2023

What’s It About?

A former athlete and a psychologist from America’s Deep South attempt to make peace with their ancestors’ history of slavery.

Review

At a time when racial tensions in the U.S. are still making news, here is a profound documentary that boldly addresses the issue and wagers that solutions are possible. A Binding Truth shows that even over a century after Slavery was abolished in the country, African Americans in the Deep South still suffer from its curse. However, the film also valiantly explores hope in the form of a growing willingness for expiation and reconciliation.

This unique story is told primarily from the perspective of two men from Charlotte, North Carolina: an African American – Jimmie Lee Kirkpatrick – and his Caucasian compatriot – Hugh “De” Kirkpatrick. Their paths cross, yielding to the discovery that their common surname is not merely a coincidence. In fact, De’s ancestors were masters of slaves of whom Jimmy is a descendant. Mutual curiosity leads them on a quest to uncover the truth about their families’ histories and the unpleasant dynamic that defined them.

But before the archaeological dig so to speak, this film shows where these two are “coming from”. Jimmie was once a prodigious young American Football player, whose Running Back skills earned him a position as the first Black in an all-White team. But even though the Civil Rights movement was gaining steam in 1965, Jimmie was openly shunned from frat houses, school dances and even the high-profile Shrine Bowl game. More unfortunate incidents and a shift to rural Oregon changed his life dramatically, till he returned home and to his calling.

Meanwhile, De, a well-educated student who revelled in his family’s legacy of privilege, is soon racked with guilt over America’s “Original Sin”. He thus recruits the aid of a research consultant named Helen Schwab. She reveals that his forefathers were wealthy dairy farmers and top cotton-producers with numerous slaves tending to the family business. Together with Jimmie, De roots out other progeny of slave owners – like Emma Peoples Smith – in a quest to come to terms with the cruelty of their forefathers.

Then, a young relative of Jimmie’s appropriately points out how the latter’s mother Irma was a housekeeper to rich white folk – a dynamic that perpetuates their submissive origins. Further research reveals that positive true stories of African Americans turning entrepreneurs in the early 20^th Century did not find their way into school textbooks. Furthermore, several of their buildings were razed to make way from “Urban Renewal”.

However, among the progressive actions documented in this film are the restoration of a forgotten slave cemetery and the Slave-Dwelling Project which provides a recreated experience of the oppressed people. Also, the film introduces Harvey Gantt, Charlotte’s first Black mayor, whose many compiled degrees didn’t spare him the scourge of racial bigotry.

The film adequately tackles the complexity of race relations over the centuries and how the slaves’ lack of family name, prestige and property has denied present-day African Americans a strong sense of identity and dignity. The film wraps up on a heightened note of hope with recognition “awarded” to Jimmie. While the impassioned voices of a few featured people are generously scattered through this film, it lacks quotes by those unsympathetic to the cause of the African-American (of which there are many).

However, this is still an expertly crafted documentary. Full marks goes to the editing process for enmeshing live images, photos, voices and music. Credit is due also to the well-paced and engaging direction by accomplished nonfiction filmmaker Louise Woehrle. Plus, the background music is varied and effective without being obtrusive. Here is an indie-release worthy of a place in the U.S. government’s national archives and mandatory-viewing globally.

****