LOGLINE

Set in a remote corner of the Deep South, Glendora reveals a stirring tale of identity, heritage, and community.

SYNOPSIS

In the heart of the Mississippi Delta, the village of Glendora may seem quiet and remote. But beneath its stillness lies a vibrant, tightly knit African-American community whose strength, resilience, and creativity thrive despite chronic scarcity. Glendora is the result of five years of close collaboration between filmmaker and townspeople—an intimate portrait of life where economic fragility meets profound cultural wealth.Told through the voices of multiple generations, the film weaves personal testimonies with daily rituals—birthdays, graduations, weddings, funerals—capturing the rhythm of a town that continuously rises above its circumstances. As the Mississippi landscape shifts, so do the stories, revealing both the universality of human experience and the distinct textures of rural Southern life. More than a place, Glendora reflects a larger American history shaped by racial injustice, economic neglect, and structural inequality. The film underscores the community’s efforts to stay connected and shape its future amid ongoing challenges. Glendora is a film made with—and by—the people who live there. It amplifies voices too often unheard, offering a powerful story of culture, resilience, creativity, and collective memory from a town long overlooked—but not easily forgotten.

The film is now completed, and the Glendora Collaborative is beginning its journey-represented at screenings and events by the very people we see and hear in the film.

GLENDORA: A COLLABORATIVE PORTRAIT

My work is rooted in long-term, immersive collaboration. I first traveled to Mississippi in 2013, initially to collaborate with the Innocence Project on a photography book centered around the wrongful convictions of Levon Brooks and Kennedy Brewer. Over five years, I documented, and shared in the lives of the two exonerees and their families—work that profoundly impacted me; it opened a window into a layered reality and the complex issues and histories of communities that are often overlooked in mainstream narratives. This project deepened my commitment to long-term, community-based storytelling and led me to Glendora, a small village in the Mississippi Delta. With a population of just 160, the town’s isolation seemed to amplify the systemic challenges I had first encountered while working on Levon and Kennedy. I began filming in 2019 and was based primarily there from 2020 to 2024. Over time, I was welcomed into everyday moments—birthdays, graduations, weddings, funerals. The resulting film—created with and for the community—is a shared portrait shaped entirely by local voices. From rap videos to family traditions, young people to elders, the Glendora Collaborative, our equal partner, represents a powerful, grassroots narrative told on their own terms. The film is now being presented by the very people who brought it to life.

FLORIDA B. SMITH

Ms. Florida, a landowner and mother of twelve, recalls her childhood spent sharecropping, and Emmett Till’s lynching. Ms. Florida passed away on August 15, 2024. The film is dedicated to her memory. Her daughter Detria M. Jones is now her voice:

It’s an honor to be writing about my mom, Florida B. Smith, a wise and God-fearing woman. It was important for her to tell her story because it was worth telling, and also to inform younger generations of the struggle of yester-years. From living on a plantation to becoming a landowner is what she would describe as reaching for the stars and you just might land on the moon. The takeaway is REACH and never give up on God...Oh boy! She was a sharp dresser! That’s maybe how she escaped the struggles by finding peace and comfort in looking good. When she met Isabelle, her style of dress caught her eye. I remember her saying before we met her “she’s a jazzy little thing”.  I think it was a friendship at first-sight, which grew deeper over the years, and that they really loved each other.

BLACMANE HAYES

Blacmane reflects on life in Glendora and the personal and communal losses that inspired him to organize events like 'J-Day'—a tribute to the young men and women in the community whose lives were cut short by gun violence.

I’m very involved in my community and I wanted to do this documentary because I want to show the world how we live. I also want to stop gun violence, and get that message out.  We have too many young people here lost to gun violence.  I didn’t really get a chance myself, but now grown men like me, we are role models to the children here.  I try to show them how to be successful, how to not be scared and to take a chance and reach!  When Isabelle first showed up here, I just liked her and trusted her right away.  She has this personality and great energy, you can’t miss it. She’s very easy to talk to.  We all had a lot of fun hanging out and doing this.

COLUMBUS MCKINLEY

Columbus, a local landowner, recounts a childhood influenced by a resilient grandmother and a remarkable father. He reflects on the Civil Rights era and shares his family’s legacy of resistance during that pivotal time.

I wanted to tell my story because there are so many things young people do not know about now, our old ways of life, and all that happened right here during the civil rights.  I don’t want the stories lost and young people need to know where they come from.  Some of these stories were buried, covered up, and we couldn’t talk about them then. It was important to me to pass information on, because knowledge is power. When Isabelle first came around, she has a way of presenting herself well, and I always look at demeanors, and trust came easy.  She laid it out clearly, what she wanted to do and how. It made me think and so many memories came up. We also spent a lot of time just sitting and talking, just peaceful times with a friend.

JEFFEREY “BUTCHY” RAINEY

Butchy, a father, music producer, rapper and the film’s soundtrack designer, records local artists and organizes community performances. He reflects on his turbulent youth while coping with the recent loss of his grandmother, Ms. Maggie Peterson.

I started rapping at 9 yo to fit in with the older guys. I love music, my family, and my grandma..I moved to Glendora to be with her. She was an inspiration and my anchor.  You have to hold on to the people and places that matter. I’m ambitious, so when Isabelle came to this small town to record what was happening, I felt she had something going on. She had better gear than we’ve had and I took a chance, got out of my comfort zone. I wanted to promote my rap, it’s hard to do here. I don’t trust nobody, it’s just how I am.  So it took some time for me to trust her, but she hung out a lot, and stuck with it, and had respect for my music.

MAYOR JOHNNY B. THOMAS

Mayor Thomas has long fought to keep Glendora visible and relevant, establishing a small museum honoring Emmett Till, whose body was found near the town.

It was important to me to create a documentary specifically about the town of Glendora, the oldest and first municipality of Tallahatchie County. This is a very proud moment for me, as it shows that this community was considered worthy of having its history documented. In addition, this documentary showcases the youth of this community and the hope for the future. I'm proud to have Isabelle working with this community on this documentary because of her persistence and genuine care for our community. Even though Isabelle was an outsider, she somehow fit right in, and we hope our collaboration continues beyond this project.

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