This Saturday, Chatham Community Library is set to host a unique and thought-provoking event. In partnership with the Community Remembrance Coalition - Chatham, a special film screening of "Acts of Reparation" will be held. The documentary follows the journey of two friends – one Black and one white – as they delve into their ancestral histories and the meaning of reparations for them, according to the Chatham County.
Open to all, the screening is scheduled for November 23, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the library's Holmes Family Meeting Room, located at 197 NC Hwy 87, Pittsboro, NC. Those interested in attending this free event can get more details by visiting the library's website or by calling (919) 545-8084, as per the Chatham County.
Prior to the showing of "Acts of Reparation," there will be a virtual discussion led by Macky Alston, one of the film's creators. The documentary, produced by Selena Lewis Davidson and Alston, purposefully uses a first-person plural narrative to document the duo's experiences. They travel to the South, engaging in often unshared conversations that tackle how race and its history have influenced their friendship, families, and wider community connections, as detailed by the Chatham County.
"Acts of Reparation" is framed by the perspectives of Alston and Davidson, who have distinct ancestral ties; the ancestors of one were enslavers, and of the other, enslaved. Yet, they seek to understand and forge a path forward into what is possible for the mending of relationships, for their communities, and for the nation as a whole. By shedding light on these untold stories, the producers aim to prompt discussions and the potential for transformation, regardless of a fraught and complex shared history, as mentioned by the Chatham County.
