Better than Before: Journey To Now - Makia Harper

Change can only happen when individuals choose to be honest. Honest about what they've seen, honest about its impacts, and honest about their capacity to share it with others in hopes of bringing about change. It takes a special soul, an anointed soul to shed light on people, situations, and circumstances that the world would rather keep dark.

The quote, "The truth can get ugly" is a saying as old as time, but I beg to differ. The truth can only get ugly if you don't allow a safe space to share it. When I think of individuals providing a space, that place for a "calmer / revitalizing ground", I think of none other than Makia Harper.

"Makia is a Brooklyn-based documentary filmmaker, media artist, and film/media professor. Her work explores the many social, emotional, and political issues that plague today’s society. Makia’s creative, yet informative approach to media making evokes both thought and action. “God Speaks: Philadelphia Voices Against Violence”, 2008 was her first feature-length documentary and was screened in festivals across the country.

Since then, she has created several short documentaries on topics surrounding the intersection between social justice, community development, and spirituality. Currently, Ms. Harper is in Pittsburgh working on the second phase of her documentary series “Better than Before: Journey To Now”, the story of three Vietnam vets whose perseverance, strength, and hope carry them through war, illness, and trauma. Makia is an adjunct professor at Robert Morris University, Hunter and John Jay College, and teaches video/film production and media studies. She is also a contributing writer to the media arts journal, "After Image", and was formally a writer for the Philadelphia City Paper covering topics on activism, and community relations in Philadelphia."

But that's not all, there is so much to Makia that she too deserves a documentary, but it is with great joy that I share with you more information about her documentary for the community.

"Better than Before: Journey to Now" is a six-episode documentary series that features the stories of three veterans as they discuss the social, emotional, physical, and cultural effects of the Vietnam War. The film explores ways in which they deal with trauma as they find inspiring ways to heal and thrive.

"Better than Before: Journey To Now" is the second phase of the audio documentary and experiential installation, "Better Than Before", which I completed in 2016. 

"Better than Before" profiles the life of my uncle, James Isreal, a Vietnam vet who shares a spiritual journey that is filled with self-discovery, introspection, and hope in the midst of war and abhorrent racism. His poignant retrospective follows his struggle to find peace in the midst of trauma and disease, providing life lessons that transcend the pangs of adversity and the unknown.

"Better than Before: Journey To Now"  features the evocative stories of James Williams, Malcolm Andress, and Omar Thomas as they navigate getting access to overdue Veteran benefits, physical illness, PTSD, and deep anger on their journey to peace.

They find solace in family and continue to do the work that they love ranging from landscaping, and construction, to public speaking. Their excitement and zest for life are palpable, inspiring, and enviable in the last chapters of their lives. One of the things that drives them most is the desire to tell their stories, their unconventional path to restoration, and their contribution to American history.

This film aims to provide a space for healing and discussion about a war that has had detrimental impacts, psychologically, socially, and economically on the US. This project offers social and cultural atonement with one of the most controversial wars in contemporary history. Through engaging and evocative personal accounts this film educates while providing an opportunity for collective healing and momentous transformation."

Makia is currently 70-75% of the way to completing this groundbreaking film, and this is where we (the community) come into play.

To support the incredible individual that is Makia Harper and her film that will go down in history, click the link here!