A Highway Runs Through It…: A Community History of Darby Township

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Directed by Valerie Harris

Valerie Harris in person for post-screening discussion

Presented in partnership with:
University of Pennsylvania African-American Resource Center

A Highway Runs Through It... documents the history of African Americans in this once rural community on the outskirts of Philadelphia. Combining vintage photographs, historic and newspaper research, interviews with longtime residents, and a compelling narrative, this documentary traces the story of Darby Township’s African American community, from 18th century indentured servitude and post-civil war prosperity, through the Great Migration of the 1920s, to the redevelopment movement of the late 1950s and it’s impact on Darby Township today. Despite widespread community displacement, the loss of cultural landmarks, and increasing political marginalization, A Highway Runs Through It... celebrates the resilience of Darby Township’s African American community, and the enduring spirit that has defined their presence in Delaware County for more than 220 years. (USA, 2011, 86 min, work-in-progress)

Above photo courtesy of the David King, Jr Collection

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Artist Bio
Valerie Harris is a writer, teacher and producer of literary – and now video – media. Since 1995, much of her work has been dedicated to assisting individuals in seeing themselves as active participants in the cultural landscape of their communities. This has included publishing Black Parenting Today magazine (1996-2002); leading writing workshops for teens, adults & seniors at Paul Robeson House and other community sites; and publishing IDENTITY, an anthology of writing by local teens, which is available at branch libraries throughout the city. In 2007, Valerie began her introduction to video production through workshops at Scribe Video Center, including Scriptwriting for Documentary; 14 week Production; 8-week Production; and Intermediate Editing. As a companion piece to A Highway Runs Through It.... which began as a memoir-writing workshop with seniors in Darby Township, PA, Valerie is collaborating with photo collector, David King and photographer/graphic artist, Patricia Gunter in publishing A Highway Runs Through It… A History of Darby Township’s African American History,featuring essays and many of the vintage photographs used in the film.

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Storyville is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts