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  • Free to Be Free (2024)
  • Short | 26 min | Documentary, Short
Free to Be Free (2024)
Short | 26 min | Documentary, Short
Free To Be Free this multi Award Winning film is a powerful and timely documentary that explores one of the most personal yet politicized aspects of identity for Black women in America: natural hair. While African Americans across the ...See moreFree To Be Free this multi Award Winning film is a powerful and timely documentary that explores one of the most personal yet politicized aspects of identity for Black women in America: natural hair. While African Americans across the country continue to face racial discrimination, Black women must also navigate the additional burden of gender bias. At the intersection of these struggles lies hair - a source of pride, culture, and, all too often, discrimination. With its unique beauty comes a heavy cost. From school policies to workplace bias, Black women have endured social, economic, and even health consequences simply for wearing their hair in its natural state. In response, a growing movement has emerged to push back - resulting in local ordinances and state-level legislation designed to protect natural hairstyles as a basic civil right. Free To Be Free follows the groundbreaking fight to pass the first natural hair discrimination bill in the Deep South: Louisiana's House Bill 41, inspired by the national CROWN Act. Set against the backdrop of one of the most politically complex states in the U.S., the film offers an unflinching look at how change is fought for and won. Interwoven with this legislative battle are raw, deeply personal testimonies from women on the front lines - Supreme Court clerks, lawyers, doctors, and politicians - who share the emotional toll and resilience required to challenge a culture that still sees natural Black hair as unprofessional or inappropriate. Their stories are as heartbreaking as they are inspiring, shedding light on a broader movement for equity, authenticity, and dignity. Free To Be Free is more than a film about hair - it's about freedom, identity, and the fight to be seen, accepted, and respected. Written by Free to Be Free - Team See less
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Director
Damien D. Smith
Editor
Daniel Sagona
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Feb 6, 2024
Release date
Feb 6, 2024 (United States)

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10 cast members
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2 external links (official website, website)