09 Feb Watch: The Unbreakable Virgin Islanders Captivate University of South Florida Educators

The Unbreakable Virgin Islanders continues to inspire audiences throughout the country.

Professors, students and civic leaders were left spellbound by the accounts of those who survived both hurricanes Irma and Maria at the film’s most recent screening at the University of South Florida in Tampa on February 5.

“I’m truly at a lost for words,” explained Dr. Fenda Akimu.

The film screening was the featured event at USF’s annual Institute on Black Life Conference headed by professor Akiwumi.

Fellow Virgin Islander Senator Myron D. Jackson was also featured as the conference’s keynote speaker. His presentation “In Search of Identity” detailed his family’s roots in the US Virgin Islands and the territory’s turbulent history with Denmark and the United States.

This most recent showing of Unbreakable is part of a nationwide tour launched by acclaimed author and journalist Peter Bailey, who directed and produced the film based on his now infamous New York Times Op Ed “Has America Forgotten the Virgin Islands” which he penned while building a make-shift roof.

Unbreakable has also screened at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, the University of Delaware and the University of the Virgin Islands. In January the film was named an official selection of the Indie Night Film Festival at Hollywood’s world famous Chinese Theater.

The tour next heads to Florida International University on March 7 as part of the annual Jazz in the Gardens FMAC Conference. Bailey will be joined by Jeff Friday, founder of the American Black Film Festival, the nation’s largest and most prestigious film festival focused on black filmmakers.