Showcase
Looking Over Jordan: African Americans and the War
The Civil War began as a means of preserving the Union. But to nearly four million African Americans, it held a much more personal promise. As Northern armies swept south, self-emancipated slaves sought refuge behind Union lines. Determined to claim basic human rights, former slaves turned soldiers helped defeat their oppressors. But the road to freedom would be a rocky one. Despite continued oppression and violence, African Americans worked tirelessly to rebuild families torn apart by slavery, to educate themselves, and to claim their rightful place as American Citizens.
Through in-depth interviews with Civil War scholars, historical reenactments, and moving songs of faith and hope that made life bearable, Looking Over Jordan: African Americans and the War highlights the African American experience in Tennessee during and after the war.
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The Civil War began as a means of preserving the Union. But to nearly four million African
Bonus Videos
Explore Looking Over Jordan even further through these extended interview video clips.
Building the Community
After the war, African Americans quickly discovered they had to depend on each other.
Behind The Scenes - Music and Sounds
Emmy Award Winning Composers Joe DelMerico and Joey Hodge explain the intricacies of writing and recording the Film Score for Looking Over Jordan.
From Civil to Civil Rights
In many ways, the end of the Civil War was the beginning of the Civil Rights movement.
Searching For Family
For many former slaves, the search for family went on for decades after the war.
Production Credits
Writer, Producer, Editor
ED JONES
Musical Score
JOE DELMERICO & JOEY HODGE
Associate Producers
CLARENCE E. BALL III
LATONYA TURNER
Narrator
JACKIE WELCH SCHLICHER
Videographers
JIM DeMARCO
MATT EMIGH
PAUL MOJONNIER
Audio Post & Sound Effects
JOE DELMERICO
JOEY HODGE
Soloists
APRIL DELMERICO
ALAN HATCHER
TINA HUTCHINSON
DANN ZEHR
Choral Group
LAKE PROVIDENCE
MISSIONARY BAPTIST
CHURCH CHOIR
Promotions
BRIAN O'NEILL
Tennessee still images Courtesy of
TENNESSEE STATE LIBRARY
AND ARCHIVES
COLLECTION OF THE
TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM
Additional images Courtesy of
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Battlefield Re-Enactment Footage
Courtesy of
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Actors
ALYSSA BURRUS
EVAN SMALLEY
GENE JONES
JAMES RUDOLPH
LATOYA GARDNER
LEON BLANDIN
MAX De'SIR
MAYA ANTOINETTE RILEY
QUINCIE SMALLEY
TAMIKO ROBINSON
Voice Actors
ELLIOTT ROBINSON
as “Louis B. Hughes”
RASHAD "“thaPOET”"
as “J. Sella Martin”
Senior Engineer
DALE BAKER
Artist
SUSIE THIEMONGE
Graphics
BIZ WOODIE
Web Producer
LINDA WEI
Special Thanks to:
LAKE PROVIDENCE
MISSIONARY BAPTIST
CHURCH
lpmbc.org
TENNESSEE AGRICULTURAL
MUSEUM
tnagmuseum.org