The four-part documentary HBCU Storytellers film series, 400 Years Later...'free-ish, explores the 400-year commemoration of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia in late August 1619. The films capture this epic milestone through the journey of fifteen HBCU students as they explore past and present race relations in the birthplace of American slavery. The documentaries follow the students in their efforts to promote racial healing and reconciliation as they grapple with Virginia's contentious history and the racial issues these monuments present. In Part 3. Confederate Monuments - Heritage or Hatred? the controversies surrounding the removal of the Robert E. Lee statue that gained national attention after the Unite the Right Rally in 2017 that led to the tragic death of Heather Heyer. Students will follow stakeholders involved in this debate, including high school student leader Zyhanna Bryant and Dr. Wes Bellamy, the Vice Mayor of Charlottesville who led the charge to remove the statue. This film also highlights various community interviews with diverse Virginians that explore the issues surrounding the question of heritage or hatred.
