In the early part
of the 20th century, African Americans began a mass migration from
the South. The stories of those who went to the Northern cities
are well documented. Much less is known about the thousands who
went West to take the road less traveled and found dozens of all-African
American towns. Dearfield, Colorado, 85 miles northeast of Denver,
was one of those towns.
Directed
and co-produced by donnie l. betts, written by Reynelda Ware Muse,
and narrated by John Amos. The story of Dearfield is told through
the words of founder O.T. Jackson, descendatns of original settlers,
historical photographs, and re-enactments. Its blues score was created
by "Mississippi" Charles Bevel, Carlton Bacon, Dan Wheetman,
and Lita Gaithers. Dearfield also contains the Dianne Reeves original
song "Old Souls."
Dearfield
won several film awards, including Black Film Works (Oakland) and
the National Black Programming Consortium. It also was nominated
for a regional Emmy and was screened at film festivals in Denver,
Taos, New Orleans, and FESPACO in BURKINA FASO, West Africa.