Juneteenth: New film reimagines what life would be like for Black Americans if they were returned to Africa post-slavery

On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston found out they were free.

The discovery was nearly two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed. But what if the U.S. government mandated all formerly enslaved people to go back to Africa 160 years ago?

That’s the history one woman reimagined in her new short film called ‘If They Took Us Back’.

On KPRC 2+ Now at 7 a.m., the film writer and director, Holly Charles-Pearson, joined the show to share how her previous work, teaching African-American studies, inspired the story.

“As I was teaching my students, I always think about how fragile that decision was and how it could have gone an entirely different way,” Charles-Pearson said. “I thought, man, this is an opportunity for us to go back and look at the opportunity to shift everything and to really celebrate who African Americans are.”

Charles-Pearson hopes the film impacts people in a way that helps people reevaluate society as people know it today.

“I think the ultimate goal is for us to really challenge ourselves to look at social constructs and why they were created in that way,” Charles-Pearson said. “If we went back in time and there was a 160-year exile of African-Americans to this country, would we be valued and appreciated more? My personal opinion is that it would be.”

You can watch a screening of ‘If They Took Us Back’ and attend a Q&A for the short film on June 19 at 7 p.m. at The State Theater in Austin, and on Saturday, June 22 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Emancipation Park Cultural Center in Houston.

You can also find even more film and ticket information here.