Thibodeauxville

THE STORY

In Thibodaux, Louisiana (once called "Thibodeauxville"), few people can agree on what happened the night of November 23, 1887. The events would become known as the Thibodaux Massacre, and according to John DeSantis’ book, The Thibodaux Massacre: Racial Violence and the 1887 Sugar Cane Labor Strike, “White vigilantes gunned down unarmed black laborers and their families during a spree lasting more than two hours. The violence erupted due to strikes on Louisiana sugar cane plantations. Fear, rumor, and white supremacist ideals clashed with an unprecedented labor action to create an epic tragedy.”

There is little consensus on anything about that fateful day: the number of dead bodies, though the official count was set at eight; where the bodies were buried, though folklore points to the grounds beneath Raymond Stafford Post 513 - the "Black" American Legion Hall; or, who shot first, though some have suspected Andrew Price, a former attorney, sugar cane planter, and congressman.


For many natives and residents of Thibodaux, the mere mention of the massacre brings shame, pain, and outright anger. That is, of course, if they've heard about it at all. Yet, in some ways, the 1887 Sugar Cane Labor Strike, that resulted in the Thibodaux Massacre, can be credited with having spurred modern labor and civil rights movements, while simultaneously striking fear and intimidation that has paralyzed the town’s Black community for generations.

What we know for certain is that the power structure of Thibodaux remains largely influenced by a handful of families who have enjoyed generational wealth in a town of nearly 15,000 mostly white (60%) residents. We also know that in recent years there has been a sharp rise in violent hate crimes perpetrated by throngs of white nationalist and domestic terrorist groups. Despite a centuries-old problem where some white Americans have used violence as a tool to control others, Black people remain resilient and hopeful...But can a small town ever really heal its wounds and be fully resilient, if it never reconciles with its past?


THE IMPACT

Thibodeauxville - The Story of The Thibodaux Massacre: Race, Riot, and Resilience will appeal to audiences with a shared passion for human rights, racial justice, and economic empowerment. The film will reveal the events that led to the 1887 Sugar Cane Labor Strike and ultimately The Thibodaux Massacre while providing firsthand accounts of the impacts of this event on present-day Thibodaux. Across the United States, there are numerous examples of communities where the racial lines mirror income boundaries. Although it will primarily relate to the experiences of Black Louisianans, the film will also have wide appeal with those who have an interest in labor relations in the United States and seek to understand the income gap that exists between working-class families and the wealthy elite. 


THE APPROACH

In many ways, the town of Thibodaux is separated along color lines. So, we will begin, in black and white film, comparing and contrasting the homes, neighborhoods, schools, and churches that serve Thibodaux's Black and white residents.

Then, through interviews and oral history, animation, archival newspapers and photographs, tours of former sugar cane plantations and other landmarks, recent news coverage, and book excerpts, we will piece together the events that led to the labor strike and ultimately the massacre. Finally, we will close by hearing from current residents about their hope for Thibodaux as well as by capturing the town's growth.


THE BUDGET

- Story Rights & Development Costs - $30K
- Production Expenses (Production Staff, Camera, Sound, etc.) - $30K
- Post-Production Expenses (Editing, Music, Post-Production Film & Lab) - $35K
- Publicity, Legal, Accounting, etc. - $75K




Thibodeauxville - The Story of the Thibodaux Massacre: Race, Riot, and Resilience is a documentary in development, directed by Christina Hill, a native Thibodauxan. The all-Black, femaleproducing team consists of five members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. A total of three Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) are represented on the team.


RISKS & CHALLENGES

Films are expensive to make, and the only way we can truly tell OUR stories is if we have the necessary resources to do so. Editing will be important, because we will get a vast amount of information as a result of our interviews, and will need to distill it down to a concise story that honors the people without cutting out the heart of the story. Travel will also play a huge part. Most of the people associated with this project live outside of Louisiana and will need to travel to Thibodaux to shoot. Additionally, animation, which can be expensive, may be used to explain some of the more nuanced historical elements. Given the importance of telling this story accurately and fully, the hiring of an archival producer or historian will be key as well.