Evidence of Our Existence is a short documentary rooted in the living landscape of Holly Springs, Mississippi, where history is not only remembered but actively interpreted, preserved, and shared. Centered on the work of community members connected to the Behind the Big House program, the film explores how stories of enslaved Africans are brought into public memory through historical interpretation, material culture, storytelling, and place-based learning. Moving beyond traditional narratives centered on plantation homes and their owners, the film highlights the people whose labor, knowledge, skills, and ingenuity helped build and sustain these spaces. Through the voices of interpreters, historians, artisans, and community members, Evidence of Our Existence examines how physical sites and community memory serve as evidence of lives too often omitted from public history.
At its heart, the film is about truth-telling. It asks what becomes possible when communities engage difficult histories honestly and together. By centering the voices of those carrying these stories forward, Evidence of Our Existence demonstrates how preserving history can deepen understanding, foster connection, and create opportunities for collective healing. Featuring the work of the Behind the Big House program, an initiative of the Rosa Foundation in Holly Springs, Mississippi, the film invites audiences to consider not only what history remembers, but whose stories are remembered and who gets to tell them.
Support the Work
Evidence of Our Existence highlights the work of Behind the Big House, a public history program of the Rosa Foundation that centers the stories, skills, and contributions of enslaved Africans. If you’d like to support this important work, please consider making a donation to help sustain the program and its mission of education, preservation, and community engagement.
Meet the Interpreters in the Documentary
Creative Team
Castel V. Sweet, PhD
Producer & Director
Castel Sweet is a community builder, embedded sociologist, and documentary filmmaker whose work lives at the intersection of race, place, and collective memory. As founder of Sweet Soil Narratives, she uses storytelling to preserve cultural memory, honor ancestral wisdom, and amplify stories often left out of the historical record. Her work explores the ways memory and place can be used to build bridges between the past and present toward a more just and liberated future. A native of Memphis, Tennessee and based in Mississippi. Her background in community engagement informs a filmmaking approach that is grounded in relational practice and collaboration with communities. With Sites of Memory, Castel brings together her commitments to storytelling, justice, and community care, inviting viewers into a shared journey of truth-telling, healing, and reimagining.
Antonio Tarrell
Producer
Antonio Tarrell is a filmmaker hailing from Bruce, Mississippi, whose expansive skill set spans producing, directing, and cinematography. Known for his ability to craft visually captivating images that advance narratives and resonate deeply with audiences, Tarrell has a unique talent for creating films that impact viewers on a subconscious level. His dedication to storytelling is evident in his varied body of work, which includes feature films, documentaries, and commercials. Tarrell’s films often explore themes of justice, memory, and social change, aiming to provoke thought and inspire action. Antonio Tarrell Films, under his guidance, has also made significant contributions to television, working with major networks on productions. Each project showcases Tarrell’s flair for engaging with complex topics through powerful visual storytelling, establishing him as a prominent voice in contemporary filmmaking.
Partners & Supporters
