400 years at half staff
ON JULY 4 WE CELEBRATE AMERICA’S FREEDOM BY WAVING THE AMERICAN FLAG. BUT NOT ALL AMERICANS ARE COMPLETELY FREE. For over 400 years, the system has threatened the freedom of Black Americans. Since George Floyd’s death, over 2,000 Black people have been killed by the police. So on America’s day of freedom, we built awareness and reminded people that for all the progress we’ve made so far, we still have much more work to do to ensure that all of us are free.
First we created and produced the film, 400 Years at Half Staff, to promote our efforts ahead of July 4th. We used the film to promote the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Bill back in 2021. Since 1918, there have been over 100 anti-lynching bills introduced to Congress. In 2022, over a year since launching the campaign, President Joe Biden signed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act into law, making lynching a federal hate crime.
But we didn’t stop there. We created a cutting edge Instagram Lens that featured our flag and orated its manifesto. Black Americans and allies alike show their support to tne campaign and alignment with the its values by posting declaration videos.
What are people saying?
“Shines light on the
discrepancies in the history
of freedom for Black people.”
LBBOnline
“There are many more
conversations to be
had in what it means
to truly be free”
Doug E. Fresh
“Fourth of July
campaign demonstrates
Independence Day
reality for Black Americans.”
Campaign Mag
Awards & Honorable Mentions
SF ADDY AWARDS (2022)
Public Service - Film, Video, sound - 092: Public Service Non-broadcast audio/visual - GOLD
Online/Interactive - 024: Social Media – GOLD
Online/Interactive - 024: Social Media – BEST OF SHOW
One Show (2022)
Film - FI_14: Under 50K Budget - SHORTLIST
FP_01: Fusion Pencil – SHORTLIST
ADC (2022)
ADV-159: Television / Film / Online Video - Low Budget - SHORTLIST