When I was trying to... race against other productions that were telling the story of especially the story of the shooting at Mother Emanuel, I had friends tell me that there was no competition, that sadly Black death is perennial.

It's an experience that we're always grappling with, that we're always trying to get to the core of.

So it's important for people to see this film whenever they encounter it because it gives them an opportunity to contemplate the extent of the African presence in America and that it's something that's intrinsic and that's been carried on inside of Gullah Geechee people for centuries.

Even with the acculturation and assimilation into American culture, there's something uniquely African in the spirituality and the lived mundane lives of people that I think is beautiful.

I want the audience to walk away after the experience of viewing AFTER SHERMAN with a sense of admiration for the love and the hope that exists despite the violence that has besieged this community for generations.

I want people to understand that Black people have a stake in this country, and that we have never been complicit or compliant with the disrespect and disregard for our humanity.