Our filmmaker friend Grace Lee is currently working on her latest feature American Revolutionary, a documentary on legendary Detroit activist and philosopher Grace Lee Boggs. She's been working on this project for the better part of the last decade -- gathering nearly 100 hours of material -- and recently launched an online campaign to raise funds and get the film finished. Take a look at the video pitch:
And here's some more information on Grace Lee Boggs and the film:
Grace Lee Boggs has dedicated her life to the next American revolution. Born while women were still denied the vote, this daughter of Chinese immigrants earned a PhD in philosophy at age 25 before committing herself to a life of ideas, action, and the promise of change and social justice--primarily from within the African-American community. Moving to Detroit in the 1950s and marrying African American autoworker/activist James Boggs, she saw that Detroit embodied both the failures and possibilities of the American dream, and was thus an enormously fertile place in which to work. At 95, Grace continues to engage audiences around the world in a process of re-imagination, conversation and action -- reminding us that revolution is not only possible and necessary, but already happening.I can't tell you how much I want to see this finished film. Grace Lee Boggs is a true revolutionary and an inspiration for any generation. As my man Beau Sia put it, "Grace Lee Boggs is the truth!" Grace is turning 96 in June and they're hoping to assemble a rough cut by then.
Although Grace's biography is an important part of our story, this is not a biopic or a historical film. This film is about how a visionary thinker and doer grapples with the looming questions confronting humanity and sustains her commitment to that work. The driving narrative transports Grace through the major social movements of the last century -- from labor to civil rights, from Black Power to feminism, identity politics and beyond -- and shows how she emerged with a philosophy that is almost radical in its simplicity and clarity: revolution is not an act of aggression but an ongoing, evolving series of dialectical conversations. It is about the willingness to shift tactics, reevaluate strategy and embrace contradictions. "Revolution," Grace says, "is about the ability to change yourself to change the world."
Do you want to see this film? Your donation will help make it possible. No amount is too small, and they're offering cool perks at various levels for your contribution. For more information about American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs, and to donate to this project, go to the IndieGoGo page here. And spread the word.