Behind The Scenes [Donor Access Only]
Give Me Liberty - Official Website
A documentary about The Anderson Family Reunion born of the slave legacy of Patrick Henry. "Give Me Liberty" is a testament to the strength of a family determined to stay together through generations of adversity.
About the Film
Give Me Liberty is an intimate exploration of family, memory, and resilience, told against the backdrop of American history. Centered around the Anderson Family Reunion, the film captures a journey through sacred spaces—plantations built by their ancestors, towns erased by displacement, and the quiet strength of generations determined to endure.
This story is not confined to a single lineage. It speaks to a larger truth within the Black American community: the urgent need to reclaim our histories, honor our elders, and preserve the roots that define us.
Through the voices of family members, historic site visits, and the documentation of living traditions, Give Me Liberty offers a portrait of what it means to remember—and why it matters.
The Story Behind the Film
The Inspiration
Give Me Liberty began with a camera and a promise—to honor the legacy of a family that refused to forget where they came from.
In 2023, after the passing of his grandmother Louise, Actor/filmmaker Nathan James purchased a film camera to document his family’s first reunion after COVID. What began as a tribute to family quickly became a journey through generations of memory, history, and truth.
Thanks to the extensive genealogical research of his mother, Barbara James, the family uncovered their direct ties to American slavery
Because of her work and family organizer, Shirley Alston, the reunion included visits to historic locations tied to their ancestors: the land they once built, the graves where they now rest, and the towns—like Little Egypt—that were stolen and flooded by corporations like Duke Power. Nathan captured these sacred moments on film.
The result is Give Me Liberty—a powerful tribute to remembrance, reclamation, and the strength of a family determined to preserve their legacy.
The Challenges
Like many independent films rooted in personal history, Give Me Liberty has come with both emotional and financial challenges.
During the editing phase, Nathan James experienced the devastating loss of his father, who had documented many of the family’s past reunions. That footage became a vital part of the film—and his father’s passing nearly brought the project to a halt.
Although the film’s Indiegogo campaign was successful, unexpected financial needs emerged. Travel logistics, historical preservation costs, and other unforeseen expenses quickly ate into the budget originally set aside for a professional editor and festival submission fees.
The film also requires funding for the licensing of still images, archival footage, and music that Nathan does not own—critical elements that bring historical and emotional depth to the story.
Still, the work continues—with the same spirit of resilience the film itself was built to honor.
The Mission
In an era where African American stories have often been marginalized or erased, Give Me Liberty stands as an act of truth-telling, historical reclamation, and generational empowerment.
The mission of this film is not only to preserve the legacy of one family, but to ignite a larger movement—encouraging Black families with ancestral ties to slavery to trace their own roots, document their histories, and protect the stories that schools and institutions have too often failed to teach.
Give Me Liberty exists as a living archive for future generations: a testament that remembrance is a radical act of survival. It is a call to reclaim what has been lost, to celebrate what has endured, and to ensure that those who come after us know exactly where they come from—and the strength from which they descend.
Meet the Director
Nathan James (Director/Cinematographer/Executive Producer)
Nathan is a proud native of Pittsburgh where he began his acting career with Kuntu Repertory Theater.He received a B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh, and an M.F.A from Penn State University where he also served as an instructor in the Fundamentals of Acting. His is one man play, Growing Pains, has been produced at The August Wilson Center for African American Culture, The United Solo Theater Festival (Theatre Row NYC), and various theaters and festivals around the United States. Nathan is one of seven playwrights of The New Black Fest’s HANDS UP: 7 Playwrights, 7 Testaments (Seven ten-minute plays following the shooting of Mike Brown). Hands Up was featured in American Theater Magazine, and Nathan’s play, Superiority Fantasy, was chosen as BBC Radio’s Play of the Week. In the spring of 2014, he won 1st place at Amateur Night at the Apollo with an original poem. His original poetry can also be heard on the soundtrack of the EMMY Award nominated documentary, Torch Bearers.
Film/TV credits: Standing Up, Falling Down (Tilted Windmill Productions), Madam Secretary (CBS), Shades of Blue (NBC), Quantico (ABC), The Wire (HBO), Deception (ABC), Blindspot (NBC), VINYL (HBO), Person of Interest (CBS), Blue Bloods (CBS), The Path (Hulu), Service to Man (STARZ).
Theater credits: Off-Broadway – Travisville (Ensemble Studio Theatre), Playing with Fire (Gene Frankel Theatre), Black Angels Over Tuskegee (St. Luke's Theatre).NY – Maid’s Door (Billy Holiday Theatre), Armed (The Amoralists Theater), Growing Pains (Billy Holiday Theatre).Regional – Blues for an Alabama Sky (Center Theatre Group), Radio Golf (Two River Theater), Feeding Beatrice (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis), Julius Caesar (Pennsylvania Centre Stage), Work Song (Pittsburgh City Theatre).
Supporters
With Deep Gratitude
Thank you to the generous supporters of Give Me Liberty. Your belief in this project is a powerful act of remembrance, resistance, and love. We honor your support and share this story in your name.
Executive Producers
($2,000 & above)
  • Stephen Washington
  • Mandi Masden
Associate Producers
($1000 & Above)
  • William & Barbara James
  • Toccarra Cash
Platinum Supporters
($500 & above)
  • Jason Rogers
  • Dennis Allen
  • Anthony Mayo
Gold Supporters
($250 & above)
  • Richard C Aven
  • Jonathan Groff
Silver Supporters
($100 & above)
  • Angelee Santillo
  • Cameron Walker-Miller
  • Cynthia L James
  • William James Jr.
  • Ronald Barr
  • Michael Goolsby
  • Sonja Lane
  • Marsha Brown
  • William Dennis and Sydnie Liggett-Dennis
  • Chichi Anyanwu
Bronze Supporters
($50 & above)
  • Marcus Henderson
  • Ben Cain
  • Holly Lovejoy
  • Terry Moore
  • Maureen Tomko
  • Garlia Jones
  • Allison Winn
  • Shirley Alston
  • Emily Freed
  • Renee Cash
  • Tracy Cole
  • Radesha Piles
  • Patricia Hintz
  • Nazli Sarpkaya
Supporters
($25 & above)
  • Mlakritz
  • Jessica Ruffin
  • Tilewa Otunba Nwaeze
  • Michael A. Capeheart
  • John Dubinion
  • Ebony J. Howard
  • Sadé Council
  • Danielle Graham
Special Thanks
  • Pine Hall Plantation
Support the Film
Completion Fund
Your contribution helps us complete post-production, including final editing, color correction, and sound mixing to ensure the highest quality presentation of this important story.
Distribution Support
Help us bring "Give Me Liberty" to film festivals, community screenings, and educational institutions across the country, maximizing its impact and reach.
Educational Materials
Support the development of curriculum guides and educational resources to accompany the film, making it a valuable tool for teaching American history in classrooms.
$25
Supporter
Your support is a crucial step toward bringing our story to life. Every contribution, no matter the size, plays a vital role in preserving this legacy.
At this level, you'll be included in a special behind-the-scenes look at the journey to cementing this legacy, giving you an insider's perspective on the making of our documentary
Included Items
  • A thank you on our website
  • Behind-the-scenes content
$50
Bronze Supporter
Take a deeper dive into our narrative. Your contribution helps us delve into the complexities of our family history. As a token of our gratitude, we're honored to promote your business or personal social media account on our social media platforms. Your support means the world to us.
Included Items
  • A thank you on our website
  • Social Media Shout Out
  • Behind-the-scenes content
$100
Silver Supporter
  • At this level, you're not just a supporter; you're a crucial collaborator in helping us complete this journey. As a token of our appreciation, you'll gain access to exclusive merchandise and an even deeper look behind the scenes, with first-look access before it becomes available before the general public.
Included Items
  • A thank you on our website
  • Social Media Shout Out
  • Behind-the-scenes content
  • Online screener Access
  • Signed film poster
$250
Gold Supporter
  • At the gold tier, you're so much of a crucial part of making this film a reality, we want to show our appreciation by helping you cement your own legacy. Enjoy all other perks up to this point as well as a discount for genealogical services with our family historian, Barbara James, as our way of saying thank you for your invaluable support.
Included Items
  • A thank you on our website
  • Social Media Shout Out
  • Behind-the-scenes content
  • Online screener Access
  • Signed film poster
  • 25% off genealogical services
$500
Platinum Supporter
At the platinum tier, you're our top contributor, and we're deeply thankful for your role in making this film possible. In addition to all the perks of lower tiers, you'll also be listed in the film credits as well as an exclusive invitation to a Zoom session with Nathan James, providing updates on the film's progress from our filming location.
Included Items
  • A thank you on our website
  • Social Media Shout Out
  • Behind-the-scenes content
  • Online screener Access
  • Signed film poster
  • 25% off genealogical services
  • Name in Film Credits
  • Exclusive zoom update session
$1000
Associate Producer
Welcome to the production team as an Associate Producer! In addition to all the perks of lower tiers, we're thrilled to offer you a boosted discount on genealogical services to help cement your legacy. You'll also be acknowledged as an Associate Producer in the credits and receive an exclusive invitation to the LA screening of our film.
Included Items
  • A thank you on our website
  • Social Media Shout Out
  • Behind-the-scenes content
  • Online screener Access
  • Signed film poster
  • Associate Producer Film Credit
  • LA Screening Premiere Invite
  • Exclusive zoom update session
  • 50% off genealogical services
$2,000
Executive Producer
SOLD OUT!
Welcome, Executive Producer! You're at the helm of our leadership team, and this project simply cannot happen without you. In addition to all others perks , including a 75% discount on genealogical services, you'll be listed as Executive Producer alongside Nathan James. Additionally, you'll receive front-row seating at the LA screening premiere.
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© 2023 Give Me Liberty Documentary. All Rights Reserved. Contact: [email protected]
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