“The portraits are profiles in courage that celebrate the power of the individual in service of the common good. There is a sense of urgency informed by optimism in the film.”

—Edgar Allen Beem, The Portland Phoenix

Truth Tellers

Directed by Richard Kane

58 minutes | English SDH captions | Scene Selection

What defines a great American? For artist/activist Robert Shetterly, it's a citizen who courageously confronts issues of social, environmental and economic fairness. Shetterly has painted 250 portraits of such Americans, past and present, with a quote inscribed into the dark background. These "Americans Who Tell the Truth" have been exhibited throughout the United States for almost two decades.

Truth Tellers is both a story of Shetterly's art and activism and a history lesson in what it means to be a citizen of a democracy. In bringing Shetterly's message to a wide audience, Truth Tellers will spark a national conversation on truth telling.

Shetterly's subjects include contemporary activists for racial justice Zyahna Bryant, Maulian Dana, and Rev. Lennox Yearwood, and climate activists Bill McKibben, Kelsey Juliana, and Bill Bigelow. Shetterly's portraits place them in the context of our great civil rights leaders John Lewis, Fannie Lou Hamer and Bayard Rustin.

Truth Tellers is now available on DVD with public performance rights for purchase and rental by schools, libraries, and other organizations. Academic streaming can be licensed from Docuseek. Campus and community groups interested in hosting a community screening can book now through Bullfrog Communities.

WATCH THE TRAILER

“Truth Tellers follows down-to-earth activist-artist Robert Shetterly as he discovers and depicts scores of Americans, famous and unknown, who fight for this culture’s highest ideals. This flowing, timely work of art allows viewers of all ages to meet and learn from an array of inspiring people, past and present, who have put words into action in our country’s long struggle for racial and environmental justice. Leave it to Bullfrog Films to provide such a well-crafted, uplifting documentary.”

—Peter H. Wood, Emeritus Professor of History, Duke University, Author, Black Majority, Co-author, Created Equal: A History of the United States

“Inspiring…Artist Robert Shetterly sees himself as an artist and an activist and demonstrates how the two terms are united in a work of art. By painting movers and shakers of equity and reform, he becomes them. With each brush stroke comes a new detail or insight - By the time we see Shetterly stunningly surrounded by his 250 portraits, we appreciate his central place in the gallery of courage, struggle, and promise he so beautifully portrays.”

—Jessica Hoffmann Davis, EdD, former Chair and Founding Director, Arts in Education Program, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Consider screening Truth Tellers in your classroom or community during the Worldwide Teach-in on Climate and Justice on or around March 29th, 2023. The Worldwide Teach-in is a powerful way to get students and teachers at your institution talking about climate and justice.

Teach-ins can be at colleges, universities, primary, middle and secondary schools, museums, or in faith or civil society communities. More than 350 teach-ins were held in more than 60 countries in 2022.



Please explore the available Teach-in models and see which model would work best for your institution!

Join the Worldwide Teach-in's Weekly Wednesday Webinars (10 AM and 9 PM Eastern) to learn about how you can host a Teach-in. These webinars also act as professional development workshops for teaching climate for non-experts. Browse events page for upcoming webinars. We hope to see you there!

To order Truth Tellers,

visit the Bullfrog Films online catalog.

Order by phone at (610) 779-8226

or email us at info@bullfrogfilms.com

Bullfrog Films is the oldest and largest publisher of documentary films about the environment in the United States. We define "environment" broadly, and our catalog includes programs on ecology, energy, agriculture, indigenous peoples, women's studies, environmental justice, international relations, sustainable development, anthropology, economics, ethics, and conflict resolution.