“It’s easier to forget than to remember.” ~ Leslie Wagner-Wilson
Black history is vast; our stories stretch across oceans, continents, centuries, and generations. If you're lucky enough or have the resources, you might be able to dive into the lives and experiences of several pivotal Black figures who have shaped history across time. Unfortunately, other stories are lost, buried, or swept under the rug. Leslie Wagner-Wilson refused to let her story stay buried. In 2009, Leslie released her harrowing memoir, Slavery Of Faith. In the book, Leslie chronicles her life as a member of The People's Temple, and as one of the sole survivors of the 1978 Jonestown massacre in Guyana. Having been a member of The People's Temple since she was 13, Leslie escaped from Jonestown with her child at age 21. Her family, along with 900+ people, 70% of them, Black Americans, were massacred. It would be the largest single loss of American civilian life in a deliberate act until September 11, 2001.
Now, helmed by director Richmond Obeng, Leslie is telling her story in a gripping docuseries No Church in the Wild, where she will explore why her family was initially enchanted by The People's Temple, and her struggles to survive in the years following her escape.
Learn more here: No Church In The Wild