Today we are talking with the very talented Margaret Brown about her latest documentary, Descendant.

On July 9, 1860, more than 100 captive Africans were brought to the shores of Mobile, Alabama, on a ship named the Clotilda, under cover of darkness. The international slave trade had been made illegal in the US in 1808, but human trafficker Timothy Meaher made a bet that he could get around the law with his ship. Today, the residents of Africatown, just north of Mobile, count the Clotilda survivors among their ancestors.

The documentary Descendant, brings their stories to light as they grapple with a growing spotlight on their community following the discovery of the sunken Clotilda. The film shows how events that unfolded more than a century ago continue to have lasting repercussions several generations later.

Brown produced the film alongside Kyle Martin and Essie Chambers for Participant and Take One Five Entertainment. The film premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, where it was picked up by Higher Ground Productions and Netflix for theatrical and streaming distribution. The film was shortlisted for the 2023 Academy Awards, and you can watch it now on NETFLIX. The film currently has a perfect 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Descendant was released to select theaters and on Netflix on October 21, 2022.

Descendant Trailer: YouTube

Descendant Website

You can also keep up with Africatown via the Clotilda Descendants Association.

A number of the subjects featured in Descendant are quoted in this Smithsonian article, which details the search for the wreckage of the Clotilda.

You can help Africatown’s community organizations preserve the legacy of their ancestors, combat environmental injustice and spur economic transformation. Learn more about the organizations and ways to get involved here.

Note: The instrument we were discussing throughout the episode was the Akonting. Lepoleon Williams, who plays the instrument in the film, makes them himself. You can check them out in the link below, because they’re such a beautiful instrument!

www.instagram.com/lepoleonwilliams

Descendant:

Directed by: Margaret Brown

Cinematography by: 

Zac Manuel, director of photography

Justin Zweifach, director of photography

Music by: 

Ray Angry

Rhiannon Giddens

Dirk Powell

Edit by: 

Michael Bloch

Geoffrey Richman

Producers:

Margaret Brown, producer

Essie Chambers, producer

Shawn Gee, executive producer

Kate Hurwitz, executive producer

Kern Jackson, co-producer

Kristin Mann, line producer

Kyle Martin, producer

Christine Mattsson, co-executive producer

Questlove, executive producer

Jeff Skoll, executive producer

Tariq Trotter, executive producer

Diane Weyermann, executive producer

Zarah Zohlman, executive producer

THE SMITH SOCIETY is a podcast featuring storytellers. From actors, writers, and directors to producers, editors, we discuss a variety of topics related to the film and television industry, everything from writing a screenplay to selling your idea and preparing for your next big project.

thesmithsocietypod.com

Host: Duane Fernandez

instagram.com/duane.h.fernandez/

Email and ask a question or share a thought: [email protected]

The Smith Society theme song by: Steady Cadence

Steady Cadence is a brilliant father daughter duo out of North Carolina. There is an episode later this season about the theme song, their unique sound which blends together analog and digital, their inspiration, creative approach and how Cadence, who is currently in high school, has so much soul.

The Smith Society logo: Designer, Chris Scott

Edited by: Marshall Baker

Follow your dreams, no matter where they take you.

See Privacy Policy at art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info