Canada Lee: Erased from History

Every society attempts to preserve itself by – among other approaches – silencing, and if, need be, erasing its critics and those it regards as dangerous to the social order.  The United States has, of course, its own rich history of such myth preservation through personal assassination.   Canada Lee was one of its victims.

And so, although Canada Lee was one of the greatest African American actors of the 20th Century, most people have never heard his name.  Lee poured his talent into fighting for racial equality. His uncompromising stance prompted the U.S. Government to label him a Communist, destroying his reputation and career.  Less than four years later, Lee died at the age of 45 from hypertension.  Through the insights of historians, cultural critics, co-stars, old friends and Lee's widow, Frances Lee Pearson, the film Canada Lee: Man Out Front relives Lee's triumphs and hardships -- both on and off the public stage.  This film uncovers the steps taken by the FBI to halt Lee's work toward social change and how this charismatic boxer-turned-actor found himself at the forefront of the movement for equality.  With the support of the Canada Lee Heritage Foundation and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Man Out Front is the first film to explore his life and legacy.

PRODUCER: Kenneth Kilfara

Kenneth Kilfara is an award-winning filmmaker who has screened across the U.S., Canada, Bermuda, and Germany, was one of the youngest full-time faculty members in the history of University of Georgia. Kilfara holds an MFA in Dramatic Media from the University of Georgia, sits on the Board of Trustees for the Canada Lee Heritage Foundation and is a founding member of the Athens Film Foundation. Kilfara currently teaches Media Studies and the video production at the Ross School.