Rosewood

World War I veteran Mann arrives in Rosewood, a small Black town in Florida, as he scouts land to buy. He quickly notices Scrappie Carrier and the two form a tentative, forbidden romance as their paths cross. The town's tense atmosphere foreshadows the conflict to come.

In Sumner, Fanny reveals she was beaten after an affair with a white lover, but Aunt Sarah and Lee Ruth overhear only the aftermath. Fanny tells townspeople a Black man attacked her, and the white residents readily believe her story. This rumor seeds the mob mentality that later engulfs Rosewood.

News spreads about an escaped Black convict, Jesse Hunter, prompting a posse from Sumner and nearby towns to head toward Rosewood to 'investigate'. Black residents brace for danger as suspicions mount. The stage is set for violence beyond Rosewood's borders.

The Rosewood community convenes in a church to discuss defending their town against the perceived threat. Mann clashes with John Wright, a white veteran who runs a general store, outside the meeting. The tense exchange foreshadows the polarized loyalties that will explode soon.

When the mob arrives at the Carrier home, Aunt Sarah tries to calm the crowd and insists there is a white attacker. A shot mortally wounds her, and she dies from the injuries. The murder catalyzes the riot and escalates the town's violence.

Sylvester Carrier shoots two members of the posse in defense of his family, triggering a broader shootout. The confrontation quickly spirals into widespread violence as the mob retaliates and Rosewood erupts in chaos. Tensions between Black residents and white aggressors reach a fever pitch.

Mann initially contemplates leaving town to avoid accusation, but he witnesses the lynching of Sam Carter, a Blacksmith, and changes his mind. He returns to Rosewood to join the defense alongside the residents. The decision marks a turning point in the community's resistance.

The mob seeks James Carrier, and Sheriff Walker agrees to detain him for questioning. When Carrier insists he has no information, a mob member shoots him, marking another deadly blow to the Carrier family. Wright is angry at the mob's actions, while the town descends further into chaos.

The violence spreads beyond Rosewood into neighboring towns, prompting authorities to block roads at the border of Alachua County. Deputized white men and a sheriff enforce the blockade to prevent further escalation. The trajectory of the massacre seems unstoppable as tensions flare.

Survivors of the Carrier family escape Rosewood aboard a train arranged by Wright, seeking safety beyond Florida. Scrappie and Mann share a heartfelt kiss before Mann departs with Sylvester, agreeing to reunite later. The image captures both relief and sorrow as the community fragments amid flight.

In Sumner, James Taylor confronts his wife, Fanny, and exposes her lies about the assault. He learns of her affairs, unraveling the social web that helped fuel the violence. The truth undercuts the narrative used to justify the bloodshed.

Officials report a final death toll of eight, while survivor accounts suggest many more. The town of Rosewood bears the scars of the massacre, and the event lives on in newspapers and memory. The film ends with a somber reflection on the tragedy and the long shadow it casts.