This film relates the story of a tightly connected Afro-American community informally called Colored Town where the inhabitants live and depend on each other in a world where racist oppression is everywhere, as told by a boy called Cliff who spent his childhood there. Despite this, we see the life of the community in all its joys and sorrows, of those that live there while others decide to leave for a better life north. For those remaining, things come to a serious situation when one prominent businessman is being muscled out by a white competitor using racist intimidation. In response, the community must make the decision of whether to submit meekly like they always have, or finally fight for their rights.
Credits
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored Cast
| Name |
Character |
|
Anna Maria Horsford
She was 47, now 76 years old
|
as Miss Annie |
|
Phylicia Rashād
She was 47, now 75 years old
|
as Ma Ponk |
|
Salli Richardson-Whitfield
She was 28, now 56 years old
|
as Miss Alice (as Salli Richardson) |
|
Isaac Hayes
He was 53, 65 years old when he died
|
as Preacher Hurn |
|
Leon
He was 33, now 62 years old
|
as Uncle Melvin |
|
Paula Kelly
She was 52, 76 years old when she died
|
as Ma Pearl |
|
Polly Bergen
She was 65, 84 years old when she died
|
as Miss Maybry |
|
Bernie Casey
He was 56, 78 years old when he died
|
as Mr. Walter |
|
Al Freeman, Jr.
He was 61, 78 years old when he died
|
as Poppa |
|
Taj Mahal (musician)
He was 53, now 81 years old
|
as Mr. Will |
Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored Crew
| Name |
Department |
|
Tim Reid as Director. He was 51 (now 79) years old
|
Directing |
