Boil That Cabbage Down

SCREENING EXCLUSIVE TO FILMSLAM (GRADES 5-12 ONLY)Candace is a documentary filmmaker and novice banjo player. As she learns her first tune, “Boil That Cabbage Down,” she reaches out to historians, activists, and storytellers to uncover the complex history of the banjo. Through her journey, we are transported to the past, where the painting “The Old Plantation” is reimagined, revealing the instrument's origins. We learn that the banjo was created by enslaved Black people as a musical remedy and a vessel for ancestral spirits. Could they be calling us back to the instrument now? The beautiful melodies give way to discordant notes as Candace grapples with the darker aspects of the banjo’s history. Despite efforts to erase the history and joy of the displaced, the banjo was commodified through minstrelsy and other racist practices. We confront the challenge of navigating this history to find our place. Is there still room for joy here? Was that call, that sound, misplaced? As Candace and the audience seek their place, they turn to Hannah Mayree, founder of the Black Banjo Reclamation Project. They host a Black Banjo Jam Session where folk artists of color can perform, jam, and share community. Through this, we aim to carry the joy of the past into the future.