02 Feb The Unbreakable Virgin Islanders heads to the University of South Florida’s Institute on Black Life Conference

The Unbreakable Virgin Islanders film screening tour heads to the University of South Florida’s annual Institute on Black Life Conference on Tuesday, February 5th.

In its 33rd year, the institute’s mission is to facilitate and support knowledge production—through research and scholarly exchange—on a broad range of topics relevant to the lives of African Americans, contemporary Africans and people of African descent in Latin America and the Caribbean. US Virgin Islands Senator Myron D. Jackson will serve as the conference’s keynote speaker.

This USF screening of Unbreakable will be the second showing in 2019 after the film was recently named an official selection at Indie Night Film Festival at the world famous TCL Chinese Theater located on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Based on award-winning author and journalist Peter Bailey’s now infamous New York Times Op Ed “Has America Forgotten the Virgin Islands?”, Unbreakable retells Bailey’s story and that of other Virgin Islanders who survived hurricanes Irma and Maria.

The historic event has been called the worst natural disaster in modern American history. It also marked the first time two category 5 hurricanes struck the same place in less than two weeks.

Bailey debuted the film in his native St. Thomas back on his birthday September 16 a day after his father Joseph Bailey was laid to rest. Bailey has dedicated the film to his father and all those who were affected by the storms.

“When nature and the rest of the world left us in darkness, we gave each other light,” Bailey said.

Alongside Indie Fest, Unbreakable has screened at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, University of the Virgin Islands, University of Delaware and St. Croix’s Educational Complex. The Anguilla Connection, the first film from Bailey’s Paradise Discovered series, premiered on the island of Anguilla on July 7th.

The USF screening begins at 5 pm in the Faculty Office Building Room 296 and is free and open to the public.

A Q&A discussion with Peter Bailey will follow the film.