TAFT

For almost a century, the State of Tennessee sent “wayward colored boys” and later white boys as well, to Taft, a reform school in a remote area of Appalachia. After hearing the same story repeatedly told by several different middle-aged men who had been at Taft as children, a woman who grew up in the region produced this documentary. It reveals the trauma and lasting damage to those boys, now men.

Taft was finally closed in 2012.  This 22 minute film challenges us to question whether our treatment of youthful offenders is that much better today.

A statement from Ann Walker-King

I am not a filmmaker. I am an investigator. A man on Tennessee’s death row had been sent to Taft in the 1980’s as a boy. The attorneys representing him asked me to investigate Taft.

I had heard of Taft most of my life. It wasn’t too far away, up the valley. I know now it was an entire world away. All of the men I interviewed from Taft described abuse, denigration and violence suffered at Taft.

Some of the most heart-wrenching stories are not in this documentary.  Some of those boys, now men, are still afraid, too afraid to be filmed. Yet they wanted someone to hear their stories, to know what Taft did to them. Some tried to end their lives at Taft. Some committed violent acts against other boys.

TAFT took almost five years to complete. I questioned whether I was the best person to make this documentary. I am certain I wasn’t. However, I was the one who heard these men’s stories. I felt a responsibility to make sure others heard them as well. I am indebted to all the men who trusted us. I hope TAFT allows them to feel that they have at last been heard.

And finally, this was a team effort. I couldn’t have done it without Ben and Kyle to whom I am greatly indebted. Their creative efforts, enthusiastic belief in this project, and kindness in all our encounters was unfailing.

  • Ben Saunders and Kyle Jonas | Adelicia Company

    Ben and Kyle met at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Shortly after graduating, they co-created Adelicia Company to produce videos focused on social justice, equity, and organizations doing good work in their communities.

    Ben is from Richmond, Virginia where he studied filmmaking at VCU School of Arts. His master’s in theology evolved his approach to visual storytelling as a communal process.

    Kyle is from New Braunfels, Texas. He studied Religion and later got an M.A. in Communication Studies where he focused on rhetoric, dialogue, and peace studies.

    www.Adeliciacompany.com