Charlottesville, VA – In a world that often rushes forward, filmmaker Lorenzo Dickerson is steadfastly looking back, unearthing the rich, untold narratives of rural Black communities and bringing them to the forefront. Fresh off his second regional Emmy win for the compelling documentary short Cash Crop, Dickerson is not just a filmmaker; he’s a preservationist, a storyteller, and a champion of the values that define a generation. StayFresh Magazine is proud to feature this visionary artist whose work profoundly resonates with our mission of celebrating Black farming, wine, and sustainability for the culture.
Lorenzo Dickerson, a self-described “rural guy from Virginia,” finds his deepest inspiration in the very soil his parents and grandparents tilled. “Anytime I’m back in that space, that’s just, you know, where I feel the most comfortable, where I get inspiration,” he shared in an exclusive interview. His latest Emmy-winning project, Cash Crop, is a testament to this connection. The film, a collaboration with Reel South, PBS North Carolina, VPM, and Black Public Media, delves into the world of tobacco farming in Lunenburg County, Virginia, through the eyes of Cecil Shell, a man whose family has farmed the same land for three generations.
The Roots of a Storyteller
Dickerson’s profound connection to rural life stems from his childhood. As an only child, he spent countless hours with the elders of his community—his grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-aunts and uncles. “I was definitely that kid that was on his bike all day long,” he reminisced, recalling how his grandmother would have to call a cousin’s house to ensure he came in before dark. These formative years were filled with listening to stories and asking questions, an experience that laid the groundwork for his filmmaking career. “Really the work that I do now, a lot of it is really me kind of chasing down those pieces of stories that I heard as a child and wanting to learn more and fill in the blanks,” Dickerson explained.
For Dickerson, storytelling is paramount, especially for the Black community. He believes that without it, “we run the risk of losing the values that came out of the community.” He holds his grandparents’ generation in high esteem, recognizing their distinct way of life and the lessons they imparted. He fondly recounted how his grandfather, after church, would remove his suit jacket, put on a bucket hat, and cut the grass, still impeccably dressed. Or how his mother would take his dress shirts to his grandmother to be perfectly pressed. These anecdotes speak to a generation that epitomized patience, self-discipline, and an enduring resilience—values Dickerson feels are increasingly vital today.
“Cash Crop”: A Timely Narrative
The genesis of Cash Crop was a serendipitous journey back to his rural roots. After his first Emmy-winning film, Raze, which focused on Charlottesville, Dickerson was keen to explore rural Virginia. Seven years ago, he obtained a list of African-American farmers in the state. Though initially sidetracked by other projects, he revisited the list. One farmer had moved, but the other, Mr. Cecil Shell, proved to be an invaluable connection…