Watch the film streaming on pbs.com above.
Upcoming Showings
February 2025
Beaufort International Film Festival
From The Crew
There is a street in our city, home to so much racial violence, so consistently, for so long, that it became known as Dynamite Hill. The cold cruelty and mocking meanness in the name has spread fear and worry for more than 60 years.
In Birmingham, Alabama today there exists such a numbness to our history that the name persists, even though most have forgotten – or never learned – the reason for the moniker.
But the history of Birmingham’s Dynamite Hill is a crucial chapter in the American struggle for civil rights – a neighborhood that became a national symbol of both violence and resilience. It is an area filled with remarkable people, whose remarkable acts led to lasting change.
We received the rare gift of a living history lesson from those who were raised in it: Jefferson Drew, Barbara Shores and Judge Houston Brown. What happened on Birmingham’s Center Street is a scar on American history, but the voices of Dynamite Hill speak with strength and grace about growing up in the face of unimaginable hatred and danger.
Their words carried one repeated refrain: “I’m still here.” We learned those words have multiple meanings, as many of the things Jefferson, Barbara, and Houston’s parents fought against persist still today.
Jefferson Drew told us that it was not enough just to listen, not enough just to take his words to heart if we did not take action. This film was made in effort to do that.
Our commitment was to approach this history with humility, seeking only to elevate the voices of those who lived these events and to contribute to a broader understanding of this critical period in American history. We felt a profound sense of responsibility to ensure their stories were told with the respect and authenticity they deserve.
Wrapping our interview with Jefferson, the last question for him was, “what gives you hope?” His answer was this film. This crew. That people still give a damn enough to listen and share.
Our hope is that this film may be catalyst for further exploration and discussion, and that those who view the piece will be challenged - as we were - to be more empathetic, to continue learning about our history, and to try to be better, more welcoming neighbors. We are deeply aware that our work comes with inherent limitations and potential critiques. We welcome and respect these dialogues – we feel they are essential parts of learning and growth.
We are honored to have had the opportunity to work on this project.
