Based on a story by michael dantonio, the teleplay was written by richard wesley and frank military. The deacons of defense, to use the common name, was an armed group of black men that believed in fighting back rather than nonviolent acceptance in the face of racist attacks. But despite a plot where all the moves of the players are predictable, the deacons for defense succeeds in gathering sympathy from its audience. Next, there is a dramatic showdown between the deacons and the klan. Deacons defense sets sights on eliminating big plays. With forest whitaker, chris britton, jonathan silverman, ossie davis. Deacons for defense is the almost forgotten but true story of a group of african american men who boldly took up arms against the ku klux klan. Deacons for defense 2003 cast and crew black militiamen organize their neighbors to help them fight members of the ku klux klan in louisiana. Deacons for defense pictures and movie photo gallery check out just released deacons for defense pics, images, clips, trailers, production photos and more from rotten tomatoes movie pictures. Deacons for defense 2003 black militiamen organize their neighbors to help them fight members of the ku klux klan in louisiana. The creation ofthe deacons is encouraged by an idealistic white northerner. Deacons for defense tv movie 2003 plot summary imdb.
The deacons in bogalusa are the subject of a 2003 television movie, deacons for defense. Directed by bill duke who has worked primarily in television but dabbled in feature film productions with films such as sister act 2 and hoodlum, and starring ossie davis bubba ho tep and anne rices feast of saints, forest whitaker ghost dog and the crying game, and jonathon silverman probably best know for weekend at bernies, this movie, which was originally made for the. In 2003 the activities of the deacons was the subject of a 2003, deacons for defense documentary. Fact based movie stars forest whitaker and ossie davis, the former as the founder of the deacons of defense and justice ddj and the latter as a peaceful minister trying to prevent the unavoidable violence that will follow. The government said everyone was equal, but the government didnt live in his town. Historically, the organization practiced selfdefense methods in the face of racist oppression that was carried out under the jim crow laws by localstate government officials and racist vigilantes. Although set in the deep south, the movie was actually shot in ontario using many.
Inspired by a true story, this drama is set in 1965, not long after passage of the civil rights act. Deacons for defense district of columbia public library. Historically, the organization practiced selfdefense methods in the face of racist oppression that was carried out by jim crow laws. Deacons for defense internet movie firearms database. Watch deacons for defense 2003 full movie free online. The organization was made up of black veterans from world war ii, who believed in armed selfdefense. A black man is arrested while defending his daughter during a protest, awakening a fiery passion to finally take a stand. In 1964 a small group of african american men in jonesboro, louisiana, defied the nonviolence policy of the mainstream civil rights movement and formed an armed selfdefense organizationthe deacons for defense and justiceto protect movement workers from vigilante and police violence. This is a simplistic account of how the deacons for defense came about. While many antigunners want to make the debate over the second amendment a racial one, a look back at our nations history can be an eye opener on that issue. Is deacons for defense 2003 movie streaming on netflix. Womens soccer heads to davidson wake forest university.
Produced by showtime starring academyaward winner forest whitaker, ossie davis, and jonathan silverman, the film is based on the struggle of the actual deacons for defense against the jim crow south in a powerful area of louisiana controlled by the ku klux klan. Deacons for defense 2003 by rarelust october 6, 2018 10. White civil rights workers try unsuccessfully to turn the deacons back towards martin luther kings technique of nonviolence. The deacons for defense and justice is an armed self defense african american civil rights organization in the u. The film follows the psychological transition of a family and. Forest whitaker, chris britton, jonathan silverman language. The deacons for defense and justice was a group founded in jonesboro, louisiana, in 1964 to organize men to. Fact based movie stars forest whitaker and ossie davis, the former as the founder of the deacons of defense and justice ddj and the latter as a peaceful minister trying to prevent the unavoidable violence that will. With public attention, and the attention of the fbi focused elsewhere, the deacons lost most of their notoriety and slowly declined in influence. The film stars forest whitaker, jonathan silverman and ossie davis and was directed by bill duke. In reality, it was a multistate movement and was actually started before the semifictionalized account in. Deacons for defense 2003 tv movie plot summary 1 the words black power bring back memories of names like stokely carmichael, h. Deacons for defense is a 2003 american television drama film directed by bill duke. The deacons for defense university of north carolina press.
Forest whitaker jonathan silverman ossie davis 2003 black militiamen organize their neighbors to help them fight members of the ku klux klan in louisiana. Based on dantonios story and produced by showtime, it was directed by bill duke. This was a selfdefense effort in the spirit of the american war for independence. Deacons for defense and justice forgotten heroes of the. Wake forest lands 26th best recruiting class not only was the 2003 recruiting class the largest in wake forest history, but it was also recognized by soccerbuzz magazine as the 26th best in the entire country. The film bases the story around a whiteowned factory that controls the economy of the local society and the effects of racism and intimidation on the lives of the africanamerican community. Wake forest has not lost a season opener since the first game of the 1995 season. In 1965 louisiana, an africanamerican man bristles at the racism and police brutality in his town and establishes a group to protect his community. Inspired by a true story that occurred in 1965 in bogalusa, louisiana. Based on a story by michael dantonio, the teleplay was written by richard wesley and frank military the film is loosely based on the activities of the deacons. Telecast during black history month, deacons for defense first aired over the showtime cable network on february 16, 2003. The demon deacons, who finished the 2003 season with a record of 1550, 4 2 0 in conference play, return eight starters and 16 letterwinners from last years team. Only watching the movie, though, gives the impression that the deacons were a local movement that never gained much traction outside of a single town in louisiana.
The movie stars academyaward winner forest whitaker, with ossie davis, and jonathan silverman. The words black power bring back memories of names like stokely carmichael, h. The deacons for defense and justice was an armed africanamerican selfdefense group founded in november 1964, during the civil rights era in the united states, in the mill town of jonesboro, louisiana. With the whole world watching, these men changed forever their lives, their town, and their country. But the unit has surrendered several lengthy plays. Deacons for defense the 2003 movie, trailers, videos and more at yidio. The deacons pulled up and four men publicly loaded shotguns and then made it plain that the lead was for the firemen if they turned the hoses on. The deacons for defense and justice national archives. The deacons for defense and justice was founded in 1964 in jonesboro, louisiana to protect civil rights activists from the ku klux klan. Deacons for defense dvd, 2003 for sale online ebay. The work of the deacons is the subject of a 2003 television movie, deacons for defense. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or instore pickup.
The deacons for defense and justice was an armed selfdefense africanamerican civil rights organization in the u. Despite the act, the africanamerican citizens of bogalusa are still treated like thirdclass citizens, their fundamental rights as human beings persistently trampled by the white power structure, in general, and the local branch of the kkk. On february 21, 1965the day of malcolm xs assassinationthe first affiliated chapter was founded in bogalusa, louisiana, followed by a total of 20 other chapters in this state, mississippi. The deacons for defense and justice were among those providing protection as the march resumed.
Deacons for defense is a 2003 showtime movie that was inspired by a true story of a group of african american citizens of bogalusa, louisiana, who took up arms to protect themselves from the kkk and the local law. A year before the publication of the book, the deacons were the subject of a 2003 made for television movie, deacons for defense. This took place during freedom summer, 1964, right after the civil rights act had become law. Deacons of defense 2003 amexum muur indigenous nawlins. The deacons for defense provided protection for people participating in protest marches in mississippi in 1966. Fbi files relating to the deacons for defense and justice. Mens soccer opens season this weekend at ohio state. Watch deacons for defense 2003 on netflix in the usa. The television film stars forest whitaker academy award winner, christopher britton, ossie davis, jonathan silverman, adam weiner, and marcus johnson. Wake forest has been a key factor for a deacons defense that has excelled this season. The deacons are the subject of a 2003 television movie, deacons for defense. The story follows the formation of local black men. The deacons, an african american defense group,organized to protect themselves from ongoing humiliation from the white power structure in their town. The deacons for defense and justice melanin mindscape.