After the American Civil War, over four million formerly enslaved people were set free, but most had no place to go. Wanting some autonomy over their own lives, many formed Freedom Colonies in an endeavor to live as far away from the racism of Jim Crow as possible. In 1988, documentary photographer Richard Orton began a decades-long project that followed the descendants of four of these communities. RAISE YOUR HEAD UP: FREEDOM COLONIES IN AMERICA is an hour-long documentary that explores their accomplishments, along with the challenges they face to keep these legacies alive.

After the American Civil War, over four million formerly enslaved people were set free, but most had no place to go. Wanting some autonomy over their own lives, many formed Freedom Colonies in an endeavor to live as far away from the racism of Jim Crow as possible. In 1988, documentary photographer Richard Orton began a decades-long project that followed the descendants of four of these communities. RAISE YOUR HEAD UP: FREEDOM COLONIES IN AMERICA is an hour-long documentary that explores their accomplishments, along with the challenges they face to keep these legacies alive.

After the American Civil War, over four million formerly enslaved people were set free, but most had no place to go. Wanting some autonomy over their own lives, many formed Freedom Colonies in an endeavor to live as far away from the racism of Jim Crow as possible. In 1988, documentary photographer Richard Orton began a decades-long project that followed the descendants of four of these communities. RAISE YOUR HEAD UP: FREEDOM COLONIES IN AMERICA is an hour-long documentary that explores their accomplishments, along with the challenges they face to keep these legacies alive.