In 2013, Ahead of the Curve Productions created the internationally acclaimed
documentary "Beyond Galilee: Shreveport & the Struggle for Civil Rights" that explored the
city's significant role in the national Civil Rights movement. The film has won a number of
international film awards and has recently been acquired by the Caddo Parish School Board for
distribution throughout the entire parish (county) school system. Previous screenings in the
community have initiated panel discussions and contributed to the healing process in this long
overdue exploration of the atrocities suffered in the name of civil rights.
A speech given at the Galilee Baptist Church by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in August of
1958 formed the basis for this film that explored how the elements for change he outlined played
out in the ensuing years beyond the Galilee address. The goal of the project was to champion the
heroes of the local civil rights movement, preserve and illuminate their stories to a new
generation so their contributions would live on, and raise awareness for the need to preserve the
Galilee Baptist Church as a national landmark and museum site. As a direct result of this
documentary, funds have been dedicated by the City of Shreveport for this purpose. Mission
accomplished!
Having spent most of our lives in Shreveport, LA, we became aware of the need for a
documentary of the civil rights history of the city and rose to answer the call. We
are passionate about filling in gaps in the historic record, and after seeing the impact "Beyond
Galilee" had on the citizens of Shreveport and the healing and dialog it invoked among the races,
we would like to duplicate this effort for New Orleans. There is a need
for a comprehensive civil rights story about New Orleans, one that can be shown in the local
school system, and we would like to bring that story
forward.
"Bridges to Equality" will begin with Martin Luther King Jr.'s early visits to New Orleans and move forward to the
national story of six year old Ruby Bridges as she became the first black student to integrate in
New Orleans in 1960. From there, the documentary will examine the changes that resulted and
the issues still facing New Orleans fifty plus years later.
We are witnesses of the power for change a documentary film can bring about, and we know that if we wait for someone to step forward it can sometimes mean valuable stories are lost to time as the first hand witnesses die
off.
Our director, T.D. Antoine, is a former resident of New Orleans who endured and was displaced by the tragedy
that was Hurricane Katrina in 2005. For him, shining a spotlight on the injustices of the civil
rights movement of the past up to and including the Katrina saga and beyond, is a personal and
passionate mission.
When we waded into the project that would become "Beyond Galilee",
we began by seeking out audio and visual materials. We sought out and located incredible, never seen footage by local news reporters buried in a university archive and cataloged the footage that previously was known
only by the four or five word label on the film itself (example: rare footage of Dr. King speaking
at Galilee was indexed under "Parking Problem at Negro Rally"). We know there are
similar footage archives here in New Orleans and now know, through the process we endured
with "Beyond Galilee", how and where to find it. In that effort, we filmed over four dozen
interviews with key figures in the Shreveport civil rights movement and plan to follow suit with
"Bridges to Equality."
While New Orleans has to its credit one documentary about the Tremé community and its
role in the civil rights movement, no comprehensive overview of the town's civil rights struggle
exists. "Bridges to Equality" will fill that void.
documentary "Beyond Galilee: Shreveport & the Struggle for Civil Rights" that explored the
city's significant role in the national Civil Rights movement. The film has won a number of
international film awards and has recently been acquired by the Caddo Parish School Board for
distribution throughout the entire parish (county) school system. Previous screenings in the
community have initiated panel discussions and contributed to the healing process in this long
overdue exploration of the atrocities suffered in the name of civil rights.
A speech given at the Galilee Baptist Church by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in August of
1958 formed the basis for this film that explored how the elements for change he outlined played
out in the ensuing years beyond the Galilee address. The goal of the project was to champion the
heroes of the local civil rights movement, preserve and illuminate their stories to a new
generation so their contributions would live on, and raise awareness for the need to preserve the
Galilee Baptist Church as a national landmark and museum site. As a direct result of this
documentary, funds have been dedicated by the City of Shreveport for this purpose. Mission
accomplished!
Having spent most of our lives in Shreveport, LA, we became aware of the need for a
documentary of the civil rights history of the city and rose to answer the call. We
are passionate about filling in gaps in the historic record, and after seeing the impact "Beyond
Galilee" had on the citizens of Shreveport and the healing and dialog it invoked among the races,
we would like to duplicate this effort for New Orleans. There is a need
for a comprehensive civil rights story about New Orleans, one that can be shown in the local
school system, and we would like to bring that story
forward.
"Bridges to Equality" will begin with Martin Luther King Jr.'s early visits to New Orleans and move forward to the
national story of six year old Ruby Bridges as she became the first black student to integrate in
New Orleans in 1960. From there, the documentary will examine the changes that resulted and
the issues still facing New Orleans fifty plus years later.
We are witnesses of the power for change a documentary film can bring about, and we know that if we wait for someone to step forward it can sometimes mean valuable stories are lost to time as the first hand witnesses die
off.
Our director, T.D. Antoine, is a former resident of New Orleans who endured and was displaced by the tragedy
that was Hurricane Katrina in 2005. For him, shining a spotlight on the injustices of the civil
rights movement of the past up to and including the Katrina saga and beyond, is a personal and
passionate mission.
When we waded into the project that would become "Beyond Galilee",
we began by seeking out audio and visual materials. We sought out and located incredible, never seen footage by local news reporters buried in a university archive and cataloged the footage that previously was known
only by the four or five word label on the film itself (example: rare footage of Dr. King speaking
at Galilee was indexed under "Parking Problem at Negro Rally"). We know there are
similar footage archives here in New Orleans and now know, through the process we endured
with "Beyond Galilee", how and where to find it. In that effort, we filmed over four dozen
interviews with key figures in the Shreveport civil rights movement and plan to follow suit with
"Bridges to Equality."
While New Orleans has to its credit one documentary about the Tremé community and its
role in the civil rights movement, no comprehensive overview of the town's civil rights struggle
exists. "Bridges to Equality" will fill that void.