Uniting People
Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival
A film by Petra Daher Productions
Release date 2023
Uniting People is a film about the rebirth of the Poor People’s Campaign – A movement started by Martin Luther King to address poverty and its uniting people across the USA to challenge the evils of systemic racism and poverty. The film produced and directed by filmmaker Petra Daher features the 2018 direct action campaign that won William Barber a McArthur Genius Grant and the Metro Lansing Poor People’s Campaign, a non-profit housing organization that provides affordable housing options for historically marginalized populations.
The Story
In 1968, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and many others called for a “revolution of values” in America. The activists sought to build a broad, fusion movement that could unite poor and impacted communities across the country. Their name was a direct cry from the underside of history: The Poor People’s Campaign.
Today in the United States, we have 140 million poor and low-income people — from every race, creed, color, sexuality, and place. The rebirth of the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for a Moral Revival is an American anti-poverty campaign led by Dr. William Barber II and Reverend Liz Theoharis. The Campaign seeks to address poverty through income and housing. The Poor People's Campaign (PPC) is a multiracial effort—aimed at alleviating poverty regardless of race. People who have been divided because of race, class, or location have an opportunity to work together. During the summer of 2018, poor people and moral witnesses in 40 states committed themselves to weekly peaceful direct actions to launch the Campaign. “What ensued was the most expansive wave of nonviolent civil disobedience in the 21st century United States. With a series of rallies and actions, a new organism of state-based movements was born.” Now, in over 40 states, the groundwork for a mass Poor People’s movement is emerging
Barber and his leadership to end racism and poverty won him a McArthur Foundation Genius Grant. The movement creates goals and demands that lead to solutions. One PPC success story is the development of the Metro Lansing Poor People’s Campaign, (MLPPC). MLPPC was formed by a team in Lansing managed by Lashawn Erby and Derrick Knox. Their main goal is “food sovereignty” or “food justice” for the poor, marginalized, and disenfranchised. MLPPC has made great strides and has formed a non-profit housing organization that provides affordable housing options for individuals and families that represent historically marginalized populations. Organizers at MLPPC’s Advancement Corporation the nonprofit wing, are reinventing the former Otto Middle School in Lansing. The Advancement Corporation Community Center, or "A3," which will open to the public in phases, seeks to pinpoint different areas of need in the community and fill those gaps. Over time, its efforts will include jobs and technical training, recreational activities, medical care, mental health treatment, and food distribution.
In 2018 I attended and filmed the activities in Michigan organized by the Michigan Poor People’s Campaign and was deeply touched and inspired to share the story. Uniting People is a documentary film about the resurgence of the Poor People’s Campaign. It tells the story of the movement started by Dr. King that sought to empower all people and a national call to address poverty in the USA. The film's main focus is the success of the current campaign led by Dr. Barber and Ms. Theoharis. The film shows how the movement is uniting people across the country to challenge the evils of systemic racism and poverty. My favorite part of the PPC activities is the group singing; Theomusicology is the soul of the movement. We Rise: A Movement Songbook created by the PPC is free to download and the music will be featured throughout the documentary. The documentary includes music, interviews with organizers and participants, and footage I filmed at the 2018 MPPC direct action campaign and current PPC activities and events.
The goal of this film is to provide hope and resources for people suffering in our country. The documentary will also show everyday people how they can work together to solve problems. This is an important and hopeful story that needs to be shared. The movement's goals and messages show understanding and awareness of the suffering that needs to be addressed in our country and shows that progress is possible. American people need hope and community as we move on from the pandemic. The inclusivity of the group and the solution-based message of the Poor People’s Campaign is a truly inspiring success story. The film will make people aware of the programs being created inspired by the movement and expand participation.
Petra Daher
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