ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS (August 29, 2023) — We are happy to announce an enlightening cinematic experience that will shed light on a long-standing injustice in American history. Join us on August 31, 6PM, at the Rock Island Public Library (Watts-Midtown Branch, 2715 30th St) as we present The Taking of Harris Neck, a thought-provoking short documentary by director Kevin Mannens. Admission is free and open to the public.
After the screening, David Kelly, Executive Director at Harris Neck Land Trust, and Wilson Moran, a direct descendant of Harris Neck, will be participating in the Q&A session through Zoom. Their presence will significantly enhance the value of the screening by providing firsthand insights and personal connections to the subject matter.
This event is presented by the Azubuike African American Council for the Arts and Pulling Focus African American Film Festival of The Quad Cities.
We invite the community to join us for an engaging screening of "The Taking of Harris Neck," a documentary that dives deep into the heart-wrenching narratives of descendants of formerly enslaved people. The government disenfranchised these individuals, tragically hindering their path to intergenerational prosperity through rightful land ownership.
Through the lens of Kevin Mannens, the documentary chronicles the unwavering struggle of these individuals as they strive to reclaim the land unjustly seized by the US government in 1942. Their story is one of resilience, determination, and the pursuit of justice — a narrative that deserves to be heard.
We encourage all community members to attend this screening and participate in a thought-provoking conversation with two of the Harris Neck descendants that will follow. Your presence at this event is welcomed and greatly appreciated as we shine a light on this often-overlooked chapter of history.
For more information about the documentary and its powerful message, please visit:
harrisnecklandtrust.org. https://www.directdescendantsofharrisneckcommunity.com/
https://www.connectsavannah.com/savannah/returning-to-harris-neck/Content?oid=2335465
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to engage with history, culture, and a vibrant community coming together for a meaningful cause. We look forward to seeing you on August 31 at the Rock Island Public Library.
About Azubuike African American Council for the Arts:
About Pulling Focus African American Film Festival of The Quad Cities:
About Kevin Mannens: (Bio)
Kevin Mannens is an Academy Award-nominated and Annie Award-winning technical director and visual-effects designer who has been instrumental in nearly a dozen Hollywood blockbusters. During his career, Mannens has worked at the world's leading visual-effects facilities, including Industrial Light and Magic, Moving Picture Company, and Sony Pictures Imageworks. His credits include Transformers: Age of Extinction, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Pacific Rim, The Amazing Spiderman, and Alice in Wonderland (for which Imageworks received the Oscar nod). As part of the FX team at ILM, Mannens received the 2014 Annie Award for "Outstanding Achievement in Animated Effects in a Live-Action Production" for his work on Pacific Rim. A visual storyteller, first and foremost, Kevin is fluent across various media, from 3D animation and VFX to Live action and virtual reality. Kevin is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker. His social impact and wildlife documentaries (Malpelo: Mountain of Sharks, Marsh Clouds, The Taking of Harris Neck, Mud Harvest, and more) have won hundreds of awards in international film festivals and were screened worldwide.
