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We Have Just Begun

Released Oct 1, 2023 Documentary History List
Reviews
Deep in the Arkansas Delta lies a secret buried for over 100 years. The Elaine Massacre of 1919--perhaps the largest single race or labor massacre in American history--is a buried story with strong contemporary resonances. It's also a story that's still being denied, debated and (re)written. During 1919, dozens of race and labor riots erupted throughout every major city in the US--but in Elaine, a rural war on Black workers eclipsed them all. The official story goes that a meeting of Black sharecroppers planning an uprising resulted in shots being exchanged and the death of one white police officer. White people then rose up in anger, the U.S. military was ordered to restore order, and a few dozen Black people died as a result. And yet, for 100 years, this story--never convincing on its face--has been historical 'truth.' "We Have Just Begun" was the secret passcode spoken by members of the union of Black farmers and domestic workers organizing throughout the Arkansas Delta. The film is a seven-year collaborative investigation into the Elaine Massacre and its repercussions in Phillips County. By combining recordings of eyewitnesses, revelations of descendants, and interviews with scholars, activists and current Elaine residents, the film brings long-suppressed facts and details to light, while considering both the burdens and opportunities of history. Read More Read Less

Critics Reviews

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Philip Martin Arkansas Democrat-Gazette The film is powerful and deserves sober consideration. It has a place in the ongoing conversation about how we ought to remember and redress some of the terrible crimes of the past. Jan 23, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews
We Have Just Begun

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Movie Info

Synopsis Deep in the Arkansas Delta lies a secret buried for over 100 years. The Elaine Massacre of 1919--perhaps the largest single race or labor massacre in American history--is a buried story with strong contemporary resonances. It's also a story that's still being denied, debated and (re)written. During 1919, dozens of race and labor riots erupted throughout every major city in the US--but in Elaine, a rural war on Black workers eclipsed them all. The official story goes that a meeting of Black sharecroppers planning an uprising resulted in shots being exchanged and the death of one white police officer. White people then rose up in anger, the U.S. military was ordered to restore order, and a few dozen Black people died as a result. And yet, for 100 years, this story--never convincing on its face--has been historical 'truth.' "We Have Just Begun" was the secret passcode spoken by members of the union of Black farmers and domestic workers organizing throughout the Arkansas Delta. The film is a seven-year collaborative investigation into the Elaine Massacre and its repercussions in Phillips County. By combining recordings of eyewitnesses, revelations of descendants, and interviews with scholars, activists and current Elaine residents, the film brings long-suppressed facts and details to light, while considering both the burdens and opportunities of history.
Director
Michael Warren Wilson
Producer
Michael Warren Wilson, Tongo Eisen-Martin
Screenwriter
Michael Warren Wilson, Tongo Eisen-Martin
Genre
Documentary, History
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 1, 2023, Limited