Johnathan Knight is a pretty typical American. He’s a filmmaker and effects manager working in California. One day, his sister, Rachel, shares with him some recently re-discovered family history. They’re descended from the Bibbs, a slave-holding family famed for making their slaves freedmen before the Civil War. Like many white people who make similar discoveries, they are ashamed that their ancestors owned people and travel to the site of the still-standing Bibb home to better understand the history of their family and meet the people descended from the people owned by their great-great-great-great grandfather.
Invented Before You Were Born is an interesting documentary, although it can be somewhat dry. Director and presenter Johnathan Knight begins the documentary with a question: “Am I the person who should tell this story?” Because of how often this film indulges in white guilt, I would personally answer, “No, you needed more help.” Invented Before You Were Born is by no means a bad documentary, but it stumbles over the points it makes at times because of these mistakes. Jonathan is learning, making this a great resource for people discussing the basics of racism, emancipation, and reparations.
Many historians and experts from the SEEK museum that now occupies the Bibb house are given plenty of space and time to explore the grounds of the museum and discuss the realities of enslaved life and the Bibb’s early emancipation of their slaves. The issues surrounding free blacks before the Civil War and the complex relationships between formerly enslaved people and their former masters are discussed at length. Anyone interested in the operation of slave plantations before the Civil War, the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, or the politics in the years leading up to the Secession of the Confederate States appreciate this highly educational documentary. Recommended.
Where does this title belong on public library shelves?
Invented Before You Were Born would be a great addition to American history documentary shelves.
What sort of film series could use this title?
Any series exploring emancipation and reparations could use Invented Before You Were Born.