Rosewood
This disturbing film tells the true story of a massacre of African Americans by white racists in the town of Rosewood, Florida, in the 1920's.
Rosewood seemed to be a normal, peaceful small town. Unfortunately, murderous hatred was just beneath the surface. The problems began when a white woman had an affair with a white man, but then claimed that she was attacked and raped by a black man. The sheriff, followed by a mob, searched for this nonexistent rapist, beginning by torturing and killing blacks to try to get information.
Events went completely out of control when a black grandmother was shot on her porch, based on a feeling by one of the locals that the rapist might be in her house. Soon, no black, either man, woman, or child, was safe from the mob.
One white man named John Wright (played by Jon Voight) began hiding blacks in his house and store to protect them. Even so, he had mixed feelings. As played by Voight, he was clearly torn between sympathy for the blacks and loyalty to the other whites.
Mann (Ving Rhames) was a black soldier who recently returned from World War I. He tried to buy property to settle down. As the massacre began, he saw the situation for what it was, a war in the trenches. He became a one-man military force.
In viewing this film, it is hard to find any redeeming characteristics in the racist whites who participated in the massacre. Since the film is based on a true story, it is a cautionary story about the terrible actions that racism can lead to.
The film is rated R and is available on video.