When I Rise chronicles the ascent of African-American mezzo Barbara Smith Conrad, a music student during 1950’s, who overcame bigotry and ignorance on the way to becoming an internationally celebrated opera singer.

In 1956 Barbara enrolled at the University of Texas, where black students had recently become accepted but still faced segregated areas on campus. She found herself at the epicentre of a civil rights controversy when cast as romantic lead in an opera opposite a white classmate. Barbara was expelled from the cast after a racist backlash from the Texas legislature outraged at the “racial mixing” - an incident which escalated to national news and prompted support from African-American entertainers such as Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis JR, and Sidney Poitier.

This small-town girl would later emerge as one of the world’s premier mezzo-sopranos who now headlines on stages around the world.

Produced by Oscar winner James Moll and previously seen on PBS Independent Lens.

*Available in HD

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Festivals and Awards

Winner
Audience Award, Indiana International Film Festival, 2010

Official Selection
SXSW Film Festival, 2010
Hot Docs, 2010
New York City International Film Festival, 2010
Dallas International Film Festival, 2010
Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2011