~ Always Free ~

"They said I was born a slave...but in my heart, mind and soul...I was always free."

TEXAS, JUNE 19TH 1865 -  WAS WHEN THE US GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THE END OF SLAVERY IN  THE CONFEDERATE SOUTH.

"ALWAYS FREE" IS A SOMBER & JOYOUS CELEBRATION OF THE "SURRENDER." 

IN THE 1930's, 100,000 FORMER ENSLAVED AFRICANS, WERE STILL ALIVE AND INTERVIEWED FOR THE FEDERAL WRITERS PROJECT. (Later renamed WPA)

ONI CONNECTS PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR'S SOUTHERN DIALECT POETRY OF PLANTATION DAYS TO WPA NARRATIVES & FREEDOM SONGS FROM THE ACAPELLA GROUP, SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK.

ONI LASANA AS 'LIAS' MOTHER IN "ALWAYS FREE" RETELLS TRUE STORIES OF ENSLAVED AFRICAN WOMEN, AS RESEARCHED AND REENACTED FROM AUTHENTIC ENSLAVED AFRICAN NARRATIVES.

MS. RUBY DEE IS ONE OF THE FEATURED ACTORS WHO DRAMATIZED THE ACCOUNT OF KATIE ROWE  IN "UNCHAINED MEMORIES"...READINGS FROM THE SLAVE NARRATIVES. AS PRODUCED BY HBO DOCUMENTARY FILMS IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS IN 2003. 

ALWAYS FREE! 

BASED ON 1ST PERSON EXPERIENCES OF PLANTATION LIFE, THE VALUE OF EDUCATION AND THE POWER OF A PEOPLE TO SURVIVE.

~ ADULT AUDIENCES ~