Banished delves into a hidden chapter in US history — the forcible expulsion of African-Americans from various cities around the country. Through visits to three affected towns, including Pierce City, Missouri, and Harrison, Arkansas, and time spent with the descendents of those driven from their homes, director Williams teases out the true stories of mob violence and the troubling legacy left behind in these all-white towns. This legacy, from seized property to unmarked graves, gives the film present-day power and forces the discussion into the contemporary. Banished is far more than a polemic, though. Williams brings his sly curiosity and strong screen presence into many scenes, making for hilarious moments — like his sit-down interview with a Klan leader — and incisive social commentary. (DW)

http://www.banishedthefilm.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banished_(film)
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/banished/
http://workingfilms.org/display.php?modin=50&uid=1

Banished vividly recounts the forgotten history of racial cleansing in America when thousands of African Americans were driven from their homes and communities by violent racist mobs in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In fear for their lives, Black people left these towns and never returned to reclaim their property. This film places these events in the context of present day race relations, by following three concrete cases of towns that remain all-White to this day (Forsyth County, Georgia; Pierce City, Missouri; Harrison, Arkansas). ( )