Clay continued, the film, the deacons for defense, tells a small part of this true story, a message of courage and fearlessness that was consciously hidden from the central story line of. Forgotten history bogalusa, louisiana deacons for defense. With forest whitaker, chris britton, jonathan silverman, ossie davis. According to the online africanamerican encyclopedia.
The film stars forest whitaker, jonathan silverman and ossie davis and was directed by bill duke. The deacons for defense and justice was an armed selfdefense africanamerican civil rights organization in the u. The tension between the blacks and the whites during that time were very high and emotionally charged. Deacons for defense, produced by showtime starring academyaward winners forest whitaker, ossie davis and jonathan silverman are. They were members of the deacons for defense and justice, a black self defense organization that had already engaged the klan in several shooting skirmishes. The film is based on the struggle of the actual deacons for defense against the jim crow south in a powerful area ofbogalusa, louisiana controlled by the ku klux klan. In reality, it was a multistate movement and was actually started before the semifictionalized account in. On february 21, 1965the day of malcolm xs assassinationthe first affiliated chapter was founde.
Feb 06, 2016 hicks was a leader of the deacons for defense and justice in the 1960s, a grassroots selfdefense force that protected civil rights workers and africanamericans trying to register to vote and. Black militiamen organize their neighbors to help them fight members of the ku klux klan in louisiana. Telecast during black history month, deacons for defense. Hicks was a leader of the deacons for defense and justice in the 1960s, a grassroots self defense force that protected civil rights workers and africanamericans trying to register to vote and. A hardworking man forms the black militia group which then became a focal point during civil rights movement. The deacons for defense and justice is an armed self defense african american civil rights organization in the u. Deacons for defense dvd, 2003 for sale online ebay.
This time the victim was a black deputy sheriff and the place was. Historically, the organization practiced selfdefense methods in the face of racist oppression that was carried out under the jim crow laws by localstate government officials and racist vigilantes. In 1965 the fbi began investigating the deacons for defense and justice until early 1972 when the organization became inactive. The organization was made up of black veterans from world war ii, who believed in armed selfdefense. With the whole world watching, these men changed forever their lives, their town, and their country. There had been another murder down in the deep south. I was born in bogalusa, louisiana the lumber town depicted in deacons for defense and lived through the events depicted in this movie. The story follows the formation of local black men, particularly exwar veterans who after the struggles become too overbearing organizes the group, deacons for defense, an allblack defense group dedicated to patrolling the black section of town and protecting its residents from the more violent aspects of white backlash. Its available to watch on tv, online, tablets, phone. I can attest to the fact that it is very factually recounted. The deacons for defense and justice was a group founded in jonesboro, louisiana, in 1964 to organize men to guard the homes of activists and to protect them while.
From that day forward, said burris, we didnt have too many more problems. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see lists of open tasks and regional and topical. In 1964 a small group of african american men in jonesboro, louisiana, defied the nonviolence policy of the mainstream civil rights movement and formed an armed self defense organizationthe deacons for defense and justiceto protect movement workers from vigilante and police violence. Deacons for defense is a 2003 american television drama film directed by bill duke. The deacons for defense and justice national archives. Only watching the movie, though, gives the impression that the deacons were a local movement that never gained much traction outside of a single town in louisiana. The deacons for defense university of north carolina press. A black man is arrested while defending his daughter during a protest. On february 21, 1965the day of malcolm xs assassinationthe first affiliated chapter was founded in bogalusa, louisiana, followed by a total of 20 other chapters in this state, mississippi. Watch deacons for defense starring forest whitaker in this drama on directv. Inspired by a true story, this madeforcable drama is set in 1965, not long after passage of the civil rights act. In 1964 a clandestine armed selfdefense organization formed in the black community in jonesboro, louisiana, with the goal of protecting civil rights. Deacons of defense film i was born and raised in south carolina and the accuracy of the movie was very painful. Watch deacons for defense online stream full movie directv.
Deacons for defense tv movie 2003 plot summary imdb. The deacons for defense and justice the deacons for defense and justice was founded in 1964 in jonesboro, louisiana to protect civil rights activists from the ku klux klan. The deacons for defense and justice was an armed selfdefense african american civil rights organization in the u. The deacons for defense and justice had faced death and never. A good example of how second amendment rights were used to protect fourteenth amendment rights. Fact based movie stars forest whitaker and ossie davis, the former as the founder of the deacons of defense and justice ddj and the latter as a peaceful minister trying to prevent the unavoidable violence that will follow. The klansmen on one side and the deacons on the other. Hicks was a leader of the deacons for defense and justice in the 1960s, a grassroots. Apr 26, 2010 very nice new york times obituary of robert hicks, one of the leaders of the deacons for defense and justice in louisiana in the 1960s.
The deacons for defense and justice was an armed self defense africanamerican civil rights organization in the u. The words black power bring back memories of names like stokely. The organization was made up of black veterans from world war ii, who believed in armed self defense. Armed resistance and the civil rights movement lance hill the deacons for defense and justice. In his deacons for defense, lance hill directs long overdue attention to the deacons for defense dfd and what he rightly calls, the myth of nonviolence. Adams journal of social history, volume 39, number 1, fall 2005, pp. Jan 29, 2014 a year before the publication of the book, the deacons were the subject of a 2003 made for television movie, deacons for defense. Inspired by a true story, this made for cable drama is set in 1965, not long after passage of the civil rights act.
Deacons for defense 2002 bill duke related allmovie. The deacons for defense and justice was a group founded in jonesboro, louisiana, in 1964 to organize men to. Deacons for defense tv movie 2003 deacons for defense. Oct 19, 2016 the deacons for defense and justice was founded in 1964 in jonesboro, louisiana to protect civil rights activists from the ku klux klan. See more of deacons for defense and justice on facebook. Deacons for defense film showing new york amsterdam news. Set in louisiana in the 1960s, a group calling themselves deacons for defense rise up against the ku klux klan. Bogalusa deacons for defense and justice robert hicks. Deacons for defense film jump to navigation jump to search. Only watching the movie, though, gives the impression that the deacons were a local movement that never gained much.
This film is not currently playing on mubi but 30 other great films are. Nov 03, 2017 deacons for defense is a 2003 american television drama film directed by bill duke. Historically, the organization practiced self defense methods in the face of racist oppression that was carried out by jim crow laws. The television film stars forest whitaker academy award winner, christo. Find similar and related movies for deacons for defense 2002 bill duke on allmovie. Deacons for defense 2003 cast and crew black militiamen organize their neighbors to help them fight members of the ku klux klan in louisiana. The television film stars forest whitaker academy award winner, christopher britton, ossie davis, jonathan silverman, adam weiner, and marcus johnson. The deacons were mostly black veterans of world war ii and the korean war. Historically, the organization practiced self defense methods in the face of racist oppression that was carried out under the jim crow laws by localstate government officials and racist vigilantes. Deacons for defense provided protection when no one else would.
Deacons for defense internet movie firearms database guns. Deacons for defense is a fantastic and quiet possibly the best tv film ive seen. The television film stars forest whitaker academy award winner, christopher britton, ossie davis, jonathan. Jan 16, 20 thats because hicks is the son of robert hicks, a prominent leader of the legendary deacons for defense and justice an organization of black men in louisiana who used shotguns and rifles to. Deacons for defense providing security, nonviolent civil rights protestors would not have been successful. This is a simplistic account of how the deacons for defense came about. Dec 03, 2015 the deacons for defense and justice was an armed self defense africanamerican civil rights organization in the u. Deacons for defense tv movie 2003 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
The acting was very credible,i have known men like. This took place during freedom summer, 1964, right after the civil rights act had become law. Forest whitaker takes time off one of his film settings to talk to and listen to untold stories about the deacons from the hicks family. Wikiproject film rated stubclass this article is within the scope of wikiproject film. Oct 08, 2012 standing in the street only a few feet from the klan, was a line of grim, unyielding black men. The deacons for defense and justice was an armed africanamerican self defense group founded in november 1964, during the civil rights era in the united states, in the mill town of jonesboro, louisiana. Watch deacons for defense tv movie full hd online directed by bill duke. Every person in the us nows the story of the civil rights era, martin luther king jr. Deacons for defense and justice wikimili, the best. Panache report myra panache reports blk celeb obituary part two.
The television film stars forest whitaker academy award. Based on a story by michael dantonio, the teleplay was written by richard wesley and frank military. Deacons for defense and justice the volokh conspiracy. Deacons for defense is the almost forgotten but true story of a group of african american men who boldly took up arms against the ku klux klan. Bogalusa deacons for defense and justice robert hicks foundation. Deacons for defense is a 2003 showtime movie that was inspired by a true story of a group of african american citizens of bogalusa, louisiana, who took up arms to protect themselves from the kkk and the local law. Encouraged by an idealistic white northerner jonathan silverman, marcus organizes the deacons, an allblack defense group dedicated to patrolling the black section of town and protecting its residents from the more violent aspects of white backlash. In a louisiana town in 1964, local africanamericans band together to protect themselves from violence from the kkk as well as local police. The words black power bring back memories of names like stokely carmichael, h. The film, produced by showtime stars academyaward winner forest. Deacons for defense and justice forgotten heroes of the. Sims, president, bogalusa chapter, deacons for defense and justice, conducted by william price, reporter for the national guardian newsweekly, on august 20, 1965, in bogalusa, louisiana.
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