"One of the best documentary films to screen at the Roxbury International Film Festival, The Contradictions of Fair Hope tells a captivating and thought provoking story of the human psyche and our ability to rationalize good versus evil. A history lesson in its own right, Contradictions draws you in to the world of the Fair Hope Benevolent Society taking you on a journey from its focused past to its conflicted present and unknown future."

Lisa Simmons
President/Founder
The Color of Film Collaborative, Inc.
P.O. Box 191901
Roxbury, MA 02119
www.coloroffilm.com
www.roxburyinternationalfilmfestival.org

"The Contradictions of Fair Hope reveals the tensions that undergird some of the most important questions facing not just African American communities, but all communities. How can communities retain their traditions and preserve historical memory in the face of extreme capitalism? How do we learn from history without being chained to the aspects of the historical record that no longer serve us? How do we even define community in the first place? These are just some of the queries this powerful documentary raises. The Contradictions of Fair Hope is required viewing for all educators, students, artists, activists and anyone interested exploring the significant contradictions in our contemporary society."

Aimee Meredith Cox, PHD
Assistant Professor
African and African American Studies
Fordham University (Lincoln Center)

"The journey from slavery to freedom has never been told quite like this. Set in a vibrant, post-slavery Alabama community of propertied black folk, business owners, and God-fearing families, S. Epatha Merkerson's and Rockell Metcalf's stirring and riveting debut film, The Contradictions of Fair Hope reveals how devastating the disintegrating forces of 21st century modern life are when a community forgets its own history."

Khalil Gibran Muhammad
Director
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
New York Public Library