Racist Roots
Origins of North Carolina’s Death Penalty

A Comprehensive Report by the Center for Death Penalty Litigation

Racist Roots: The Film

After we released the Racist Roots website in the fall of 2020, we knew that wasn’t the end. We wanted this project to thrive and grow. We wanted as many people as possible to understand the racist roots of North Carolina’s death penalty — and to join us in the movement to end it. That’s why, with the help of a talented video production team, we created the film version of Racist Roots.

We plan to begin public screenings of the film in the spring of 2022.

Help spread the message of Racist Roots

Request a facilitated screening and discussion of the Racist Roots film, either for yourself or for your organization or community group.

Download a Racist Roots fact sheet to print or share.

Get plugged in to the grassroots movement led by the NC Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. CDPL is a member of this powerful organization that is committed to ending the racist death penalty.

Donate to CDPL to help us continue to spread the message of Racist Roots and represent people facing execution.

Learn more about the death penalty nationwide. If you live outside North Carolina, please get involved with local organizations fighting for racial justice, abolition of the death penalty, and a reimagined justice system. If you need help identifying a local group, contact us:
cdpl@cdpl.org or noel@nccadp.org

Racist Roots is a project of the Center for Death Penalty Litigation, in collaboration with scholars, advocates, historians, artists, poets and people directly affected by the death penalty. It aims to place North Carolina’s modern death penalty within the context of 400 years of history and to expose its deep entanglement with the aims of white supremacy. This project is the result of more than a year of research, writing, and relationship building. Read about our sources. This project would not be possible without the generous support of many individuals and foundations.

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The Racist Roots film is on its way. You won’t want to miss it.

See a trailer and learn more about our ongoing work to spread the message of Racist Roots.

RACIST ROOTS: THE FILM