Black

Atlantic

Black

Atlantic

Black

Atlantic

Black Atlantic

The Africa We Carry

This feature documentary traces a living cultural continuum across the Atlantic—from Sierra Leone to Barbados to the Sea Islands of the American South—where the descendants of enslaved Africans still carry the rhythms, language, and traditions of their ancestors. Along the Gullah Geechee coast, these histories are not distant, but alive—moving through story, memory, and everyday life.

Rooted in the forced movement of Africans to the Caribbean and on to the Sea Islands of the American South, Black Atlantic follows a people whose stories continue to unfold. From fighting in the American Revolution to the Civil War, they also confront the broken promises of Reconstruction, including “40 Acres and a Mule.” Through it all, they uplift African retentions in language, foodways and basketmaking. A visual gumbo, Black Atlantic is Black history lived and continuously renewed.

2006-2026

The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor was created through decades of advocacy by the Gullah Geechee community and formally designated by the U.S. Congress in October 2006. The 200-mile-long stretch recognizes the historic and cultural contributions of an African-descended people whose enslavement on isolated plantations helped their African traditions survive and evolve.

My grandfather, Oliver Johnson, left Barbados, helped build the Panama Canal, and then created a family in New York. Towards the end of his life, he returned to Barbados and built a home by the sea.

Me, at 7, with my aunt and dad (right), attending Grandpa’s funeral.

the swim doc

Many ancient Africans were skilled swimmers, but the transatlantic slave trade and segregation disrupted that legacy. Today, Black communities face disproportionately high drowning rates, reflecting historic barriers to pools, beaches, and water safety. Across the country, communities are reclaiming this tradition and teaching new generations to swim.

With funding from the Economic Hardship Reporting Project and Marquette University, I began work in 2022 on Black Atlantic films, seeking to illuminate the depth, resilience, and interconnectedness of Black identity. I look forward to bringing these works to completion in the coming months.

Contact

Black Atlantic Films

blackatlanticfilms.com

info@blackatlanticfilms.com