Elgin James facts for kids

James at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con

Elgin James is an American filmmaker and musician. In his youth, he was part of a group called Friends Stand United (FSU). This group started in the Boston, Massachusetts area in the early 1990s to stand up against racism.

James left FSU in 2007 to focus on filmmaking. He was chosen for a special program for writers at the Sundance Film Festival. He directed the movie Little Birds in 2009. After the film was released, James had to face consequences for his past actions with FSU and spent one year in prison. Since then, he has co-written the movie Lowriders and co-created the TV series Mayans M.C..

Early Life and Big Changes

Elgin James, who is of mixed race, had a challenging childhood. He spent time in orphanages and foster homes before being raised on a farm by civil rights activists. Seeing the farm animals being treated poorly led him to become a vegetarian at age 11.

Through an older foster brother, James discovered punk rock music. He listened to bands like Black Flag and Agnostic Front. He had some trouble with the law as a young teen and spent time in a youth facility. There, he was inspired by the writings of leaders like Malcolm X. He began to believe in taking a more active approach to fighting for what he believed in.

At 17, James went to Antioch College to study law. He was inspired by famous civil rights lawyers. During a break from college, he was seriously injured in a fight. After a long recovery, he found himself homeless for a time before settling in Boston, Massachusetts.

Friends Stand United (FSU)

In Boston, James started a band and made friends with a diverse group of people. Together, they formed a group that became known as Friends Stand United, or FSU. Their main goal was to stop racist groups from causing trouble in the Boston music scene.

After making the music scene safer, FSU also worked on other positive projects. They helped rescue pit bulls that were being used for dog fighting. The group would care for the dogs until they could find them safe homes.

Over time, some members of FSU went in different directions. James and others wanted to create a positive legacy. They started the Foundation Fund, which gives scholarships to students at Berklee College of Music and Suffolk University Law School. The fund also holds concerts to raise money for charities that help homeless teens and prevent violence.

James left FSU in 2007, as he was the last of the original members. He said he had been thinking a lot about his past actions and wanted to take responsibility for them.

Music and Film Career

James started his music career in hardcore bands like Righteous Jams. He later created his own solo music, which has been called "hooligan folk" and "folk-punk".

In 2008, James was accepted into the Sundance Screenwriters Lab, a program for talented movie writers. This led him to create his film Little Birds. The movie is partly based on his own life experiences. He decided to tell the story through the eyes of two teenage girls who felt trapped in their small town, much like he did as a kid.

Little Birds was shown at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and received good reviews. The movie currently has a 59% approval rating on the review website Rotten Tomatoes.

Facing the Past

In 2009, James was arrested by the FBI for an incident that happened four years earlier. The charge was related to a conflict with a musician who had ties to racist groups. James was accused of trying to get money from the person to avoid future problems.

In 2011, a judge sentenced James to one year and one day in prison. Many people wrote letters to the judge in support of James, including famous actors like Ed Harris and Robert Redford. Redford, who runs the Sundance Film Festival, said he believed James had the "potential to make a difference."

James said that working with Redford helped him realize he needed to leave his past behind. On the day he was sentenced, he was hired to write a new movie. He accepted responsibility for his actions and served his time. He was released in March 2012.

Creative Works

Music

• 1995: 454 Big Block, "Your Jesus" (vocals)
• 1996: 454 Big Block, "s/t" (vocals)
• 1997: 454 Big Block, "Save Me From Myself" (vocals)
• 2003: Elgin James "For Carol.." (vocals, guitars)
• 2004: Righteous Jams "Rage Of Discipline" (guitars)
• 2005: Elgin James, "Tinted Soft Green" (vocals, guitars)
• 2006: Righteous Jams "Business As Usual" (guitars)

Film and Television

• Goodnight Moon (2007, writer/director)
• Little Birds (2011, director)
• Low Riders (2016, writer)
• Mayans M.C. (2018–2023, writer/director)
• The Outlaws (2021—present, co-creator)

Awards and Nominations