Loyalties (1999 film) facts for kids
Loyalties is a Canadian documentary film made in 1999. It tells the story of two women, one white and one Black. They discover they are connected because of the history of slavery in the United States.
In 1995, Dr. Ruth Whitehead met Carmelita Robertson. Carmelita was a student whose family came to Nova Scotia from South Carolina. They were known as Black Loyalists. These were people of African descent who moved to Canada after the American Revolution. Dr. Whitehead's own family also came from South Carolina. She recognized some names from Carmelita's family history.
Together, the two women travel to Charleston, South Carolina. They want to explore their shared past. The film also shows the challenges in their friendship. This is because Dr. Whitehead's family owned enslaved people. Carmelita Robertson's ancestors were enslaved by families like Dr. Whitehead's.
The film Loyalties was made by the National Film Board of Canada and ZIJI Film & Television Productions.
Awards and Recognition
The film Loyalties has won several important awards. These awards recognize its powerful story.
In 1999, the film received the Canada Award. This award comes from the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. It is given to films that show Canada's diverse cultures. That same year, it was named Best Social Issue documentary at Hot Docs. This is a major documentary film festival.
The next year, in 2000, Loyalties won the Golden Sheaf Award. This award was for the Best Multicultural/Race Relations documentary. It highlights films that explore different cultures and relationships between people.
