Deacons for Defense (TV Movie)
Encyclopedia
Deacons for Defense is a 2003 American television
drama film
directed by Bill Duke
. The Televisison film stars; Forest Whitaker
, Christopher Britton
, Ossie Davis
, Jonathan Silverman
, Adam Weiner
, and Marcus Johnson
as "Young Marcus".
) works in the town's mill for meager wages, and must endure the ongoing humiliation meted out by his white supervisors. But when he is beaten up by the police for the "outrage" of trying to defend his own daughter, Marcus is pushed too far. Encouraged by an idealistic white Northerner (Jonathan Silverman
), Marcus organizes the Deacons, an all-black defense group dedicated to patrolling the black section of town and protecting its residents from the more violent aspects of "white backlash." Telecast during Black History Month, Deacons for Defense first aired over the Showtime cable network on February 16, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Gene Mack as TJ.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
directed by Bill Duke
Bill Duke
William Henry "Bill" Duke, Jr. is an American actor and film director with over 30 years of experience. Known for his physically imposing frame, Duke's work frequently dwells within the action/crime and drama genres but also includes comedy.-Early life:Duke was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, the...
. The Televisison film stars; Forest Whitaker
Forest Whitaker
Forest Steven Whitaker is an American actor, producer, and director. He has earned a reputation for intensive character study work for films such as Bird and Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, and for his recurring role as ex-LAPD Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh on the gritty, award-winning television...
, Christopher Britton
Christopher Britton (actor)
Christopher Britton sometimes credited as "Chris Britton," is a Canadian-born film actor, television actor, Stage Actor, and voice actor who is probably best known for his work in X-Men: The Animated Series, in which he was the voice of Mister Sinister...
, Ossie Davis
Ossie Davis
Ossie Davis was an American film actor, director, poet, playwright, writer, and social activist.-Early years:...
, Jonathan Silverman
Jonathan Silverman
-Personal life:Silverman was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Devora and Hillel Emanuel Silverman, a rabbi. He is the grandson of famous Conservative Rabbi Morris Silverman. David Schwimmer was his best friend in high school. He is married to actress Jennifer Finnigan who he briefly co...
, Adam Weiner
Adam Weiner
Adam Weiner is a Polish handball goalkeeper, member of the Polish National Handball Team and silver medalist at the 2007 World Men's Handball Championship. Weiner until 1999 played in Wybrzeże Gdańsk, then moved to Germany and initially played for SV Anhalt Bernburg, later changing to...
, and Marcus Johnson
Marcus Johnson
Michael Allen "Marcus" Johnson is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Mississippi.Johnson has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and...
as "Young Marcus".
Plot
Inspired by a true story, this made-for-cable drama is set in 1965, not long after passage of the Civil Rights Act. To the African-American citizens of Bogalusa, LA, however, it is "business as usual"; they are still treated like third-class citizens, their fundamental rights as human beings persistently trampled by the white power structure, in general, and the local branch of the KKK, in particular. Like many of the local black men, war veteran Marcus (Forest WhitakerForest Whitaker
Forest Steven Whitaker is an American actor, producer, and director. He has earned a reputation for intensive character study work for films such as Bird and Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, and for his recurring role as ex-LAPD Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh on the gritty, award-winning television...
) works in the town's mill for meager wages, and must endure the ongoing humiliation meted out by his white supervisors. But when he is beaten up by the police for the "outrage" of trying to defend his own daughter, Marcus is pushed too far. Encouraged by an idealistic white Northerner (Jonathan Silverman
Jonathan Silverman
-Personal life:Silverman was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Devora and Hillel Emanuel Silverman, a rabbi. He is the grandson of famous Conservative Rabbi Morris Silverman. David Schwimmer was his best friend in high school. He is married to actress Jennifer Finnigan who he briefly co...
), Marcus organizes the Deacons, an all-black defense group dedicated to patrolling the black section of town and protecting its residents from the more violent aspects of "white backlash." Telecast during Black History Month, Deacons for Defense first aired over the Showtime cable network on February 16, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Main cast
- Forest WhitakerForest WhitakerForest Steven Whitaker is an American actor, producer, and director. He has earned a reputation for intensive character study work for films such as Bird and Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, and for his recurring role as ex-LAPD Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh on the gritty, award-winning television...
as Marcus Clay - Ossie DavisOssie DavisOssie Davis was an American film actor, director, poet, playwright, writer, and social activist.-Early years:...
as Rev. Gregory - Christopher BrittonChristopher BrittonChristopher Britton may refer to:*Chris Britton *Christopher Britton , Canadian actor and voice actor*Chris Britton of the The Troggs...
as William Chase - Jonathan SilvermanJonathan Silverman-Personal life:Silverman was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Devora and Hillel Emanuel Silverman, a rabbi. He is the grandson of famous Conservative Rabbi Morris Silverman. David Schwimmer was his best friend in high school. He is married to actress Jennifer Finnigan who he briefly co...
as Michael Deane - Tyrone Benskin as Archie
- Paul BenjaminPaul BenjaminPaul Benjamin is an American actor.Benjamin was born in Pelion, South Carolina. He made his film debut in 1969 as a bartender in Midnight Cowboy...
as Otis - Melanie Nicholls-King as Rose Clay
- Adam WeinerAdam WeinerAdam Weiner is a Polish handball goalkeeper, member of the Polish National Handball Team and silver medalist at the 2007 World Men's Handball Championship. Weiner until 1999 played in Wybrzeże Gdańsk, then moved to Germany and initially played for SV Anhalt Bernburg, later changing to...
as Charles Hillibrand
Gene Mack as TJ.
Rest of Cast
- Marcus JohnsonMarcus JohnsonMichael Allen "Marcus" Johnson is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Mississippi.Johnson has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and...
as Young Marcus - Rufus CrawfordRufus CrawfordRufus Crawford was a Canadian Football League running back who played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1979 through 1985. He started his career in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks.- External links :...
as Deacon - Joe Bostick as City Attorney
- Francis X. McCarthy as Christenberry
- Shawn Corbett as Federal Agent
- Matt Birman as Rioter
- Craig Eldridge as US Attorney
- Patricia Shirley as Church Singer
- Sharon Riley as Church Singer
- Brian PaulBrian PaulBrian Paul is a computer programmer who wrote and continues to maintain the source code for the open source Mesa graphics library. Paul began programming initial source code in August 1993. Mesa is a free software/open source graphics library that provides a generic OpenGL implementation for...
as Holden - Tim Burd as Lester Conley
- David BlackDavid BlackDavid or Dave Black may refer to:*Dave Black , baseball player*Dave Black , American author and composer...
as Alphin - Quancetia Hamilton as Woman