An Interfaith Celebration of Utah’s Black History on Film

On February 10, members of the LDS Genesis Group met in the Calvary Baptist Church with its members, as well as with representatives of prominent AME congregations and Seventh-Day Adventists, to celebrate the remarkable lives of seven Black Utahns: Dovie Goodwin, Frank Satterwhite, Eva Sexton, Allan Jackson, Annabelle Mattson, James Green, and Florence Lawrence. These lives are chronicled in The Wisdom of Our Years, the new documentary produced by the Utah Chapter of the Afro American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS). The seven tell of their first-hand experiences with segregation and limited work choices, but also of their resilience, hope, and faith. Pastor France Davis presided at the premiere of the film, which was attended by 400 people, who gave it a standing ovation. Also in attendance was the head of the National AAHGS organization, Reverend Khadijah Matins. After the film, a panel of young people (including Richard Wilkinson, son of Genesis members Winston and Gloria Wilkinson) discussed its impact. Genesis members Margaret Young and Randy Cutliff served as the project director and budget director respectively, with Phyllis Caruth (a member of the Calvary Baptist Church) acting as producer of the documentary. Ms. Caruth, who has worked most recently as an Equal Opportunity Compliance officer for Salt Lake City, went with filmmakers John and Wendy Crossman to the homes of all seven interview subjects, and then transcribed the interviews. The Crossmans interwove photographs, archival footage, and music with the life stories of these seven people—who range in age from 85 to 104 years old. (One of the interviewees, Dovie Goodwin, passed away before the premiere.) Other Genesis members who sit on the Utah AAHGS board include Catherine Stokes, President Don Harwell, Viki Cutliff, Darius Gray, and Gloria Wilkinson. The goal of the film is to show the legacy of survival and to help the upcoming generation realize the magnitude and strength of their roots. Mrs. Florence Lawrence, a descendant of Mormon pioneers (though not LDS herself), encapsulates the documentary’s theme in these words: “Be true to your own self. Know who you are and be proud of who you are.”