Film Screening at Zion Hill: Raise Your Head Up, A Documentary and Photo Exhibit by Richard Orton
February 20, 2026 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Nacogdoches Historic Sites will host a special film screening of Raise Your Head Up, a documentary by Richard Orton, on Friday, February 20 at 7:00 p.m. at the Zion Hill Baptist Church Historic Site, located at 324 North Lanana Street. The screening will include an introduction by Orton, followed by a Q&A session with the filmmaker.
Raise Your Head Up is the result of decades of research and relationship building. The documentary explores the history and legacy of freedom colonies in East Texas, communities established by formerly enslaved African Americans after Emancipation. The film began with Orton’s first visit in 1988 to the Freedom Colony of County Line in northwest Nacogdoches County, where he began documenting the Upshaw family and learning about the community’s history.
“In the beginning, my only objective was to satisfy my curiosity, enjoy the family, and make photographs that represented who they are,” said Orton. “After many years, that work led to a book, a traveling photo exhibit, and eventually to meeting descendants from other freedom colonies. Learning their histories and forming those relationships ultimately led to the creation of this film.”
In conjunction with the film screening, the photo exhibit, The Upshaws of County Line, will be on display in the Zion Hill gallery beginning February 11. The exhibit is free and open to the public during regular operating hours.
The exhibit was originally developed by the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and builds upon Orton’s book, The Upshaws of County Line: An American Family, published in 2014.
The film screening and exhibit are presented in partnership with Nacogdoches Historic Sites, the Nacogdoches Arts Collaborative, the African American Heritage Project, Friends of the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts, the Summerlee Foundation, and Alex and Suzanne Labry.
The film screening is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Registration is available through Eventbrite.com. Anyone needing assistance with registration may call 936 560 4441.
For more information about the film and exhibit, visit nactx.us/historicsites, email historic sites at nactx.us, or call 936-560-4441.
