Directors Statement Excerpt #2

Well my bags are pretty much packed and I'm making last minute arrangements for my trip out to Temecula. I'm excited about seeing the film screen again and looking forward to hearing more from the audiences. I've been making some last minute changes and additions to the subtitles after having seen it at Rhode Island a few weeks back.

Here is the second excerpt from the my director's statement.

In North America, the notion of color and racism is a monstrous chasm in our society and one I fervently hope is lessening but again, mostly created by and used by Americans against each other, and as tools to negate the value of ‘outsiders’.

In Jamaica, Black is simply a color and one of the many rainbow colors of an Island people with background from India, China, Africa, Europe, the Middle East (my particular background), and their indigenous Taino and Arawak Indians. The concept of being labeled ‘African American” is anathema to the average Jamaican and they use “American” with a kiss of their teeth and an upward glance as a negative reference to someone ‘uppity’.

There has been a tradition of films in the area of immigrant and farm labor that paint a picture of failure, and have become propaganda for various parties to brandish as it suits them. To me it appears that they have done little to solve the negative issues or market the positive. While in many cases they may have elevated the status of the filmmaker, they have not elevated the livelihood of the subjects. I cannot suggest for a second that this film will do anything to solve a grossly disproportionate economy. Or to put food in people’s mouths.

The film is a testament to the contributions of the men who come here and a celebration of the future that they are providing for those around them. While they inhabit an imperfect system with obvious real and potential failings, I wanted to make a strong case to suggest that there is good and bad in everything. The notion of betterment is not an American invention. It is a universal theme shared by those across the globe, and for the farm workers, the acceptance of struggle and sometimes seemingly unfair adversity on that road to self-sufficiency is an acceptable price to pay.

I am forever touched that Philbert Bailey, who started working at nine years of age without the ability to read, has found knowledge, relative prosperity and helped to put several children who are not his own through school. This man who lost his childhood forever, has granted it to others without an expectation of recompense. This moves me deeply even as I write the words.

Look for the third and final part of the statement soon. Adam