FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Art of Brotherly Love
A New Documentary Illuminates a Forgotten Chapter of American History Through Art, Storytelling, and Community
New York, Brooklyn — October 2025 — A long-forgotten rescue of 135 enslaved Africans in Philadelphia has been brought back to life through the lens of contemporary art. The Art of Brotherly Love, a new documentary by artist and storyteller Rah Crawford, uncovers the extraordinary 1800 event known as the “Ganges Incident” and transforms it into a sweeping cultural revival rooted in love, resilience, and legacy.
The film will make its world premiere at the 18th Annual Bushwick Film Festival on Saturday, October 4th at 1:30 PM at Williamsburg Cinemas in Brooklyn, New York.
The documentary follows Crawford’s 15-year creative odyssey after discovering the USS Ganges’ heroic mission to intercept and free enslaved Africans brought illegally to American shores. What begins as historical research evolves into Gangee – A Love Story, Crawford’s screenplay reimagining the humanity and resistance buried within this true story. The project expands into Project Gangee, a citywide cultural initiative blending art, history, and community engagement.
Anchored by historical rigor, the documentary features the research of renowned historians and researchers Michael Kearney, Shamele Jordon, and David S. Barnes, whose work documents both the rescued Africans and the abolitionists who fought for their freedom. Their insights provide the foundation of the film’s emotional and historical depth.
Equally central to the story are Crawford’s closest allies — Sandra Blumberg-Beatty, Kelly Lee, and Robert Mack — cultural collaborators and creative producers who help bring this vision to the world. Together, the team demonstrates how art, scholarship, and community partnerships can breathe new life into forgotten history.
Adding an especially profound dimension are interviews with living descendants of the Ganges Africans, including Larry Ganges, Kelly Ganges, and Rosalind Ganges-Brown, whose voices echo across generations and ground the film in lived memory.
“The Art of Brotherly Love is more than a documentary — it’s a cultural revival,” says Crawford. “It shows how art can honor history, amplify descendant voices, and remind us of America’s ongoing journey toward freedom and equality.”
Impact Goals of The Art of Brotherly Love
Illuminate Hidden History: Reintroduce the Ganges Incident to public consciousness and affirm the dignity of those rescued.
Center the Role of the Artist: Highlight how creativity connects history and community.
Amplify Descendant Voices: Anchor the story in lived memory and intergenerational resilience.
Celebrate Collaboration: Show the power of artists, historians, and cultural institutions working together.
Inspire Civic Imagination: Spark dialogue on freedom, equality, and America’s unfinished work.
The Art of Brotherly Love is both a reflection on historical memory and a celebration of creative agency — showing how one artist’s vision, rooted in love and humanity, can reignite the spirit of abolition for a new generation.
FOR MORE INFO: GangeeLoveStory(at)Gmail
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