The lot was already full-- it was by unusual circumstance that I found an area in the back of the school, to park my car.
I grabbed my belongings, slammed the driver’s door shut, and rushed inside, only to learn that they weren’t selling anymore tickets to the show.
As it turns out, Wilmington on Fire was a sold out affair, with standing room only—people were being turned away even as I darted in.
As a matter of fact, I was turned away as well. However, me, being the persistent person that I am, refused to leave… You couldn’t pay me to walk away from a history lesson as compelling and ingenious as this, and nevertheless, right at the verge of Black History month.
I stood around for a good 3 minutes-- Dean of Students, Adrian Sundiata, brought chairs from the classrooms to accommodate the growing crowd of people that were standing along the walls in the auditorium.
There was one empty chair left, and due to my defiant stance, I was able to claim that seat.
It’s not that my expectations of the event were low-- I never considered the cosmic impact that this documentary would have on the people of Charlotte.
On January 30, 2016, Christopher Everett, along with Soul Cinema Review, hosted Wilmington on Fire at Crossroads Charter High School in Charlotte, NC.
Wilmington on Fire emphasized how William Barry McCoy, was the acting arbitrator, and the malicious Democratic Party, who organized and lead a gory attack on the elite African Americans of Wilmington, NC…
The “Political Red Shirts”—a government union that was crueler than the Klu Klux Klan planned the raid on Blacks simply because they were prominent families in the area who were doctors, attorneys, newspaper, business owners, and proprietors.
Blacks were just too rich and educated for their own good.
The Red Shirts killed hundreds, and tossed the bodies of men, women, and children, into the river. They exiled the remaining Blacks, forcing them to sign over their deeds to their homes and companies…
The information I mentioned was only a small portion researched and documented by Kent Chatfield, and Christopher Everett.
The film was much more detailed, carefully displayed with timeline, names of authentic organizers that trace back to even our local and historic department store-- “South Park Mall.”
From the art, which was created by Wolly McNair, to the melodious jazz, and bluzy soundtrack, developed by music producer, Sean “OneSon” Washington—the documentary was a soul quenching recap of a mystery that plagues Wilmington, NC till this day.
Tre McGriff, founder of The CineOdyssey Experience, regulated the panel discussion with a remarkable and relaxed tone after the showing.
Audience, as well as the cast and crew members, Christopher Everett, Sean “Oneson” Washington, Kent Chatfield, Wolly McNair, Marcus Kiser, and activist, author, and radio host Larry Renit Thomas, were able to talk about the film collectively without prejudice or bias opinion.
After the gruesome feature, it was determined that Wilmington on Fire was an unearthing success.
As a movie lover, and a person deeply compelled by nostalgic documentaries, I would love to see this excellent and absorbing flick on an HBO series.
The quality is there and so is the antiquity.
For more information on the documentary visit:
Web: www.wilmingtononfire.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/wilmingtononfire
Twitter: www.twitter.com/wilmington1898
Instagram www.instagram.com//wilmingtononfire
Contact Christopher Everett at 910-280-3914
Photo credit: Tawanda Blake