Loyola Alumna Mary Morten Screens "Woke Up Black"

February 2012

Loyola and School of Communication alumna Mary F. Morten held one of many screenings to be shown around the country of her documentary, "Woke Up Black," Monday evening in Regents Hall at the Water Tower Campus.

The documentary follows the stories of five African-American youth through their daily lives, capturing their personal “struggles, triumphs, and dreams.”  Inspired by the research of her friend Cathy Cohen with the Black Youth Project, Morten set to work on her first feature-length film.    

“I wanted to put some faces to the statistics,” Morten said in the Q&A panel.  “What we generally see is 20 second bites that portray negative images.”

Morten interviewed youth from San Francisco, New Orleans, but with the help of referrals, decided on five young adults from the Chicago area to be part of her project, each with a unique story to tell.    

Morgan Price, 19 when the documentary was filmed, lives in a western suburb with her family.  Now attending the University of Iowa, the film captures Price’s thoughts on acceptance and embracing what it means to be “a strong black woman.”

Carter Tindell-Hall, then 16, was raised in Illinois foster care until he was adopted by two gay men at the age of 10.  The documentary shows Tindell-Hall’s high school experience of balancing academics and football. 

Rosalee Johnson, 18 at the time, was raised by her aunt and uncle in Rogers Park.  The first to go to college in her family, Rosie struggles with homesickness while trying to maintain an example for her younger siblings. 

Sheldon Smith shares his story of incarceration at the age of 17, as well as his experiences as a young father.  As a 21-year-old in the documentary, Sheldon works to have his record expunged while attending a Chicago City College. He also strives to take an active role in his daughter’s life. 

Then 17-year-old Ansheera, “Ace,” Hillard shares her story as a “genderqueer” Though she receives a full academic scholarship for college, the film examines Ace’s relationship with her father after he learns of her sexual orientation. 

The documentary also explores their attitudes and thoughts about images of black youth in media, music, sex, and other issues. 

Sheldon Smith, 23, and Rosie Johnson, 21, attended the screening with Morten.  At the Q&A panel, they reflected on their experience and offered other insights about the issues presented in the film. 

“I feel like I was really young then,” Johnson explained.  “I’m a completely different person.”

Johnson is currently a student at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, spending a semester in the city studying business administration and interior design.  Since filming, Rosie expressed her strengthened ability to “branch out and interact with people.”   

Smith shared Johnson’s feelings since filming, explaining “I’ve grown.”

Smith is founder of The Dovetail Project, a 12-week initiative program that teaches young fathers skills like parenting and job readiness.  For Smith, Woke Up Black was an opportunity to share his story. 

“Honestly, I hope a lot of young people took a look and can relate.  I was doing negative things—now it’s really about helping people,” he said. 

Johnson wants to maintain her image as a role model to her younger siblings.  When asked what it means to “wake up black,” Johnson shared her thoughts about current racial profiling in her neighborhood.

“As a female, I have never experienced being treated differently, but I see my brothers—in Rogers Park, the community is working with the alderman.  Police have been harassing black males.  Not every black guy is a drug dealer or gang member.  It’s just ridiculous,” she explained.    

Audience member Don Thomas enjoyed the “positive images” portrayed in the film. 

“You can be in a community that is marginalized and you don’t get that exposure,” he said. 

For Morten, the film is an opportunity to share positive images and explore the different themes that emerge with teachers and policy makers. 

“We don’t listen to young people.  We set policies for them, but we don’t listen,” Morten said.  “Why aren’t we telling these stories?  I’m a believer in telling stories—our real lives.”

Woke  Up Black was recognized in Jet Magazine as one of the “Editor’s Picks of the Week” in April 2011.  It was also selected for the San Diego Black Film Festival, San Francisco Black Film Festival, and Bronze Lens Film Festival of Atlanta.

Smith anticipates being part of Morten’s follow-up film about the five youth.  Travelling and screening together has created the opportunity for cast and crew to stay connected. 

“I’m always telling them this, they are exceptional,” Morten said. “But they are not exceptions.”