Once Upon a Time… When We Were Colored

The story unfolds in the Jim Crow South during the 1950s, a period of intensified racial segregation and limited educational opportunities for Black communities. It portrays everyday life under entrenched discrimination, with community members navigating unequal access to resources, and a climate where acts of resistance are often quiet and personal.

Glen Allan is a small, rural Black community in Mississippi where most adults work as laborers in cotton fields. The town centers on a tight-knit church-going population that seeks solace and solidarity amid racial segregation. The landscape is defined by low-income housing and one-room schools that reflect the era's economic constraints. The social climate is shaped by the Jim Crow South and a history of clashes over equality and dignity.

✊🏾 Racism

The film centers on the harsh realities of racial segregation in the rural South, showing how racism affects every facet of life, from schooling to social interactions. It captures both overt hostility, such as threats during a Ku Klux Klan parade, and the subtler, systemic barriers that limit opportunity. Yet it also highlights resilience, dignity, and the will to seek a better future despite oppression.

📚 Education

Education is portrayed as a path out of poverty and prejudice. Cliff's access to books, library visits, and encouragement from mentors illustrate how literacy can broaden horizons and enable personal advancement. The film shows the transformative power of learning, even within a hostile environment.

⛪ Faith

Religious faith anchors the community and provides moral strength in the face of injustice. Ma Ponk's church involvement and the gospel choir illustrate how collective worship sustains hope and solidarity. Faith acts as a source of resilience and a framework for supporting one another.

👨 Family

A large extended family forms the primary support system for Cliff. Ma Ponk, Poppa, and other relatives coordinate to nurture and educate him, modeling unity and responsibility. The family network demonstrates how communal care can nurture ambition and provide stability during challenging times.