Documenting The Rise Of Ferguson And Beyond

The announcement for the UN forum, Living in Color.

There might be a number of associations that most of us conjure up when we hear the name of Ferguson, MO. I know that I am very aware that a young African-American youth was killed after he was confronted by a police officer for walking in the middle of the road back in 2014. There were protests, most peaceful, but there were businesses destroyed and buildings burnt by those who lost control of their behavior. It was the indication of a national problem of men and women of color being targeted by police officers for "crimes" and brutally arrested when we know that not a single white person would have been stopped for the same behavior. We asked police officers and ourselves, "Do black lives matter?"

Out of the grief and outrage, a group of filmmakers came together and made a movie, Ferguson Rises. This wasn't the story of a tragedy, however. It was about struggle. and hope, tragedy and transcendence. It told the story of this small town that experienced this unspeakable loss and that managed to rise from the ashes, sparking the next step in the civil rights movement.



It also became the story of Director and Filmmaker Mobolaji Olambiwonnu, his search for the truth behind the surface actions, going beyond the tragedy and violence, to even confronting his own painful path in life. Out of this filmmaking journey rose a new organization, HOPE, LOVE & BEAUTY PROJECT.

According to this organization's vision, Ferguson Rises is to be the first of many films. The team behind the organization wants to help other communities in need to find their dignity, healing, and investment of residents in that community.

Last month, Director Mobolaji Olambiwonnu spoke on a panel at an United Nations General Assemby event. A forum, Living in Color was being held to discuss the power of media to support change on issues involving people of color around the world. The UN Sustainable Development Goals and Declaration of Human Rights were utilized to share media projects that were empowering and shifting perceptions of marginalized peoples around the world. He included a screening of the trailer for Ferguson Rises in his presentation.

Members of the Hope, Love & Beauty Project staff with author and spiritual teacher Marianne Williamson, (2nd from left).

By the way, the Hope, Love & Beauty Project supports other organizations that are also bringign hope, love, and beauty to their communities. THE UNDEFEATED is one of those organizations. They explore various issues in different formats at the intersection of race and culture. Their website provides a good source of current information about where the discussion is headed and a lot of material for the thinking person interested in transforming both self and society. 

Memorials for those who died at Pulse in Orlando.

Thanks for information from this Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/hopelovebeautyproject/photos/a.974911232558100.1073741829.786764388039453/1055389364510286/?type=3&theater; this Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/hopelovebeautyproject/posts/1042317812484108; and the above links.