Earth, I Thank You
Anne Spencer's garden is one of the most significant examples of a preserved African American garden in the United States. A modest and deeply personal space, it is imbued with stories of civil rights advocacy, literary genius, and the many historic figures who walked its paths. Through archival materials, expert insights, and intimate reflections, the film reveals how Spencer’s garden was not only a place of beauty and inspiration but also a powerful symbol of resistance in the Jim Crow South. Today, her legacy endures as a rare and vital historic site, preserving both African American history and the often-overlooked role of Black women in the art of gardening and social change. The film will be followed by a discussion featuring key figures in the fields of historic preservation and African American History.
Earth, I Thank you: The Garden and Legacy of Anne Spencer had its world premiere at the Smithsonian’s Museum of African American History and Culture and subsequent NY premiere at the Frick Collection in NY. The film was made possible by the Garden Conservancy’s Suzanne and Frederic Rheinstein Fund for Documentary Films.
Directed by Michael and David Udris, Udris Film
Camera and Editing - Michael and David Udris
Executive Producers - Kate Cordsen and James Brayton Hall
Producers - Pamela Governale and Shaun Spencer Hester
Part of the Garden Conservancy Documentary Film Program
On location at the Anne Spencer garden in Lynchburg, VA with Brent Leggs, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Filming with Kevin Young, poet and then director of the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Oprah Winfrey Theater/Smithsonian premiere with panelists Dr. Carlyn Ferrari, Dr. Evie Shockley, James Hall, Shaun Spencer, Brent Leggs, and Michael and David Udris.