Historically Black College and University students explore the question of Confederate monuments as heritage or hatred in America.

Virginia’s contentious history, and the controversies surrounding the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, gained national attention after the Unite the Right Rally in 2017, which resulted in the tragic death of Heather Heyer. HBCU Storytellers highlights community interviews with a diverse group of Virginians. Included among these debate stakeholders are high school student leader Zyhanna Bryant, and Dr. Wes Bellamy, the Vice Mayor of Charlottesville who led the charge to remove the Lee statue.

Confederate Monuments – Heritage or Hatred? is part three of four of an HBCU Storytellers short film project, 400 Years Later…’free-ish’, that explores the commemoration of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia in late August 1619. The films capture this epic milestone through the journey of fifteen HBCU students as they explore past and present race relations in the birthplace of American slavery. The documentaries follow the students in their efforts to promote racial healing and reconciliation as they grapple with Virginia’s history and the racial issues these monuments present.

Heritage or Hatred? had its world premiere in the official selection of 2020 Pan African Film Festival. This film is made possible by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Nate Parker Foundation.