Angel of Alabama follows Brenda Hampton, a determined investigator who uncovers decades of environmental pollution in and around her home, Lawrence County, Alabama. Born into a large family in rural Alabama, Brenda's return to her roots was prompted by her mother's health crisis which stemmed from contaminated local water. Donating a kidney to her ailing mother, Brenda soon realized the widespread issue when her remaining kidney began failing. Her investigation pointed fingers at 3M, a nearby manufacturer, for illegally dumping chemicals into the water for many decades.
Despite corporate admissions, justice remained elusive. Leading a diverse community, Brenda tirelessly fought for legal action, providing support with bottled water and safe food. Facing intimidation and ostracization, Brenda's efforts resulted in a permanent water solution for her community and spurred global change, including a policy shift by McDonald's. Brenda's fight continues against multiple industrial plants and companies polluting local water sources. Angel of Alabama showcases Brenda's resilience and serves as a wake-up call, urging audiences to examine potential threats in their own communities.
This documentary is a compelling call to action against the growing crisis of "forever chemicals," emphasizing the ongoing need for environmental vigilance. Brenda’s personal story becomes a global one in the wake of FDA and EPA investigations into microplastics and forever chemicals. While Brenda’s story is inspiring and the threat of forever chemicals looms over us all, this film lacked meatier content.
As a documentary for documentary lovers, Angel of Alabama is an outstanding choice and would fit perfectly into any public library collection. However, this documentary would be a mixed bag for classroom use: Some instructors will love it as a breakdown of the problem and one woman’s work towards solutions while others will wish it included more technical information. In all, Angel of Alabama is an intriguing study of environmental racism and the people fighting to rectify these toxic corporate practices. Highly Recommended.
Where does this title belong on public library shelves?
Angel of Alabama belongs alongside documentaries about ecology, activism, and racial disparities. This placement ensures that patrons interested in environmental issues, social justice, and community organizing can easily find and access this relevant content.
What kind of film series could use this title?
Angel of Alabama would be an excellent addition to any film series focused on environmental racism or grassroots organizing. Such a series might explore the impact of environmental policies on marginalized communities, the history and methods of grassroots activism, case studies of successful environmental justice campaigns, the intersection of race and environmentalism, and stories of individual activists making significant changes in their communities.
Does this film have public performance rights?
Limited Public Performance Rights (PPR) are included with the purchase of the film. The pricing structure for these rights is as follows:
K-12 Classrooms and Public Libraries:
DVD: $69, DVD + Digital File: $119
Colleges, Businesses, and Institutions:
DVD: $149, DVD with Digital Site License: $299