Juneteenth: Faith and Freedom (2022)
Pastor, educator, and descendant Rasool Berry examines how Christianity had been both weaponized against the enslaved in Texas, and [was] also a source of strength as they navigated different stages of liberation from Juneteenth through today. Berry connects with various experts, scholars, and historians in the state to unpack the suppressive use of faith — especially through the distribution of a “slave Bible” with redactions of any sections or scriptures pertaining to freedom and rebellion. The documentary tackles common but incisive questions, including why Black Americans would adopt Christianity when it was the faith of the enslavers who controlled them and how that same religion became an even stronger source of reprieve and validation as enslavement morphed into economic and legal bondage.
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