Slave Catchers, Slave Resisters Directed by Miguelangel Aponte-Rios, 2005

With both armed community patrols and federal law on their side, slave catchers had the obvious advantage over the slaves they were paid to track down. But they were not always successful. In fact, in the North, they were at times defeated by an organized and armed—free African-American community.

The feature-length SLAVE CATCHERS, SLAVE RESISTERS focuses on the stories of slave catchers and slave resisters from the colonial era through the Civil War, illuminating their experiences through chilling recreations, rare archival material, and fascinating interviews with noted historians and scholars. Together, these harrowing accounts demonstrate hope in even the darkest hours and animate the struggle for an America that would promise freedom to all its people.

Featuring stories never before depicted on film, HISTORY gives voice to an untold saga of courage, hope, and, ultimately, freedom.