“Poignant, healing,
and cathartic!”

Khary Payton, Director

My mother, Gwendolyn Middleton Payton, is the most courageous person I know. I anticipated that it would be emotional watching her relive this trauma. I knew it was important that I be with her in this moment.

This is a story that must be told.

My mother didn’t tell me about this long chapter of her life until a few years ago. She didn’t want to give me or my siblings any excuse to quit on our own dreams, or to blame others when we fail. I want to thank my mom for being so vulnerable, for allowing me to be there for her on the rough days, and for an unexpected gift.

This story has no beginning, middle, or end without my grandmother, Johnnie Mae Middleton. She demanded better for her child. She challenged Jericho. She imbued my mother with the resilience to march till the walls finally crumbled! This film is all about and dedicated to mama … and mama.

Special thanks to Megan DeFranza for her astounding dedication and empathy and to Paul Van Ness whose talent and love for filmmaking are etched in every frame of this project. —KP