Synopsis.
It's 1962 and life hasn't been easy for Joanna a teen mother and eldest sister. When things hit an all time low she gets fed up with the abuse in her home and plots to get her child, her siblings and her mother, Rasheeda, to safety. Inspired by true events.
Rasheeda’s Freedom Day is a new short film from Harrison Center and Dija Henry of The Blue House that tells the true story of longtime Indianapolis resident and greatriarch (a member of a community who has helped write the story of the neighborhood) Ms. JoAnna LeNoir.
She has spent her life learning that her story is worth sharing and now she’s sharing it with you. In 1962, Ms. JoAnna found the courage to take herself, her mother Rasheeda, and her siblings out of an abusive family situation to find freedom and community in the Indianapolis neighborhood Martindale-Brightwood. Every year since then, they have invited their family, friends, and neighbors on Columbia Street to celebrate “Rasheeda’s Freedom Day” on the anniversary of their escape. As the film shows, a healthy community gives us the courage to share our stories with our neighbors so we can be known and loved.
Learn more about Rasheeda’s Freedom Day
Since 1964, Indianapolis neighbors celebrate one family’s brave escape from abuse. For decades, Rasheeda's Freedom Day has been an annual tradition in Indianapolis’s Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood. But beyond the food and fun, a brave escape is the real reason for celebration. The heroine of this tale, JoAnna LeNoir, recounts the pivotal decision to bring her family to Indy with just the clothes on their backs. Local filmmaker Dija Henry retells the family’s uplifting story in a short film produced by the Harrison Center.
Director’s Statement
I have been volunteering in the Martindale-Brightwood area for 17 years through The Felege Hiywot Center. Two of those years were through my Americorps Service. Over the years I've grown to love this neighborhood and truly respect the history that is embedded in this neighborhood and it's residents. The Harrison Center for the Arts has worked to preserve stories of the long term residents of Martindale-Brightwood for several years. I was invited to adapt Rasheeda's Freedom Day written and directed for the stage by Ruthie Buescher, who also wrote the screenplay. I was really moved by Ms Joanna's courage at such a young age and was honored to tell this story especially to honor a resident from this community.
Throughout this process we've seen this film touch others and give them courage to tell their survival stories as well. I hope that we can keep making that impact by sharing this film with more people.
Remembering Miss JoAnna LeNoir
JoAnna M. LeNoir, a beloved Greatriarch of the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood, passed away on her birthday, leaving a legacy of strength, compassion, and resilience. JoAnna moved to Indianapolis with her mother and siblings on July 14th, 1963, a day they commemorated annually as Rasheeda's Freedom Day.
This story was made into a film in 2020 by the Harrison Center and Dija Henry of The Blue House. A devoted mother to four children, JoAnna's journey was marked by both joy and sorrow, including the passing of her daughter after a brave fight with cancer. JoAnna was known for her wisdom and thoughtfulness, often sharing stories of resilience from her past, including the trials she faced as a young mother. Despite the hardships she endured, her spirit remained unbroken, making her a pillar of strength in her neighborhood. -The Harrison Center of the Arts