If we haven't shouted it loud enough already, we're happy to share that our latest film, Flying Free: The Bessie Coleman Story is now complete!

We kicked off this milestone with a premiere screening at the Museum of the Moving Image in NYC where our founder, Karyn Parsons, discussed the film and the need to share lesser known stories of African American triumph to people everywhere. From February 16-24, the Museum will also present daily screenings of three Sweet Blackberry shorts, as part of Family Programs during Midwinter Recess.

In addition to the premiere screenings of the film, we are also working on completing all Kickstarter rewards for members who have yet to receive items. We will be sure to keep you up-to-date on all things Bessie and Sweet Blackberry related as we continue to pull together our distribution plan. 

What's Next? 

Now that the film is complete, we're sure the big question everyone about concerns the organization's next steps. We're currently working on a plan to have the film available to stream online as well as make the film available for teachers and community resource centers around the country. If you are a community leader looking to bring Bessie to your town, feel free to contact us at admin@sweetblackberry.org for more information. We are also working on developing educational materials associated with the film including a teaching guide, puzzle and games. 

Again, we cannot thank you enough for your continued support of this project. We could not have completed it without the support of all of you! 

We may have forgot to mention that our founder Karyn Parsons has her first novel coming out next month! 

In the small town of Alcolu, South Carolina, in 1944, 12-year-old Ella spends her days fishing and running around with her best friend Henry and cousin Myrna. But life is not always so sunny for Ella, who gets bullied for her light skin tone, and whose mother is away pursuing a jazz singer dream in Boston.

So Ella is ecstatic when her mother invites her to visit for Christmas. Little does she expect the truths she will discover about her mother, the father she never knew and her family's most unlikely history.

And after a life-changing month, she returns South and is shocked by the news that her schoolmate George has been arrested for the murder of two local white girls.

Bittersweet and eye-opening, How High the Moon is a timeless novel about a girl finding herself in a world all but determined to hold her down.

Preorder your copy here.