New Presbyterian documentary will address the impact of structural racism

Story Productions project is focused on industrial pollution and environmental racism

by Rich Copley | Special to Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — Presbyterian Disaster Assistance’s Story Productions, which has presented award-winning documentaries such as “Flint: The Poisoning of an American City” and “Trigger: The Ripple Effect of Gun Violence,” is at work on a new film looking at the impacts of industrial pollution and environmental racism.

This is the 10^th documentary from director David Barnhart and director of photography Scott Lansing. “This new film came about because these communities, who have been fighting industrial pollution in their own neighborhoods for years, saw the ‘Flint’ film and reached out to us because they saw their story in ‘Flint,’” Barnhart said.

In all, the production expects to visit eight or more communities to tell this story.

Johnetta Roberts of Louisville’s Molo Village talks to filmmaker David Barnhart. (Photo by Rich Copley)

We caught up with the production when it was in Louisville, Kentucky, to tell a story of hope and renewal in the midst of structural and environmental racism.

Please watch the video to learn more about Molo Village Community Development Corporation, the community endeavor Story Productions visited, and about the upcoming film, expected to be out in 2023.

Dismantling structural racism is one of the three foci of the PC(USA)’s Matthew 25 vision.

Video recorded and edited by Rich Copley. The music is “Hope Tomorrow” by Green Fox Productions via Pond5.com.