Forever Freedom Fighter Synopsis

Forever Freedom Fighter is a documentary that tells the personal experience of Rev. C. Herbert
Oliver an unsung pastor, civil rights activist, scholar, and educational leader. Rev. C. Herbert
Oliver’s significant contributions to the civil rights movement helped pave the way for historical
changes in America. Being jailed for allowing whites in his Birmingham, Alabama church in the
late 1940’s, Rev. C. Herbert Oliver made the decision to use his faith to fight against
segregation, racism, false religious teachings and education reform, working alongside Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr., Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth and other religious leaders.
The documentary begins at Rev. C. Herbert Oliver’s home in Brooklyn New York, less
than six years from him becoming a centenarian. Rev. Oliver shares the joys, pains,
triumphs, disappointments, laughable and tearful yet teachable moments of being a
black educated religious man in the United States within the last 90 years.
With Rev. Oliver’s archived letters some documenting and reporting over one hundred cases
of racially charged police brutality, sound recordings, pictures, other official documentation
and extensive research this documentary brings the journey of unwavering faith and
determination. Dispelling stereotypes and delivering a representation of love and justice
in the face of hate in Birmingham Alabama from the late 1940’s to the mid 1960’s.
Found among the years of correspondence to today’s honored names, a personal
letter from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. documented the first invitation of efforts to
create a united front of churches within the south to fight against segregation and
racism.

Rev. Oliver also provides his account of the Inner-City education Reform in New York
City while he was Chairman of the governing board from 1967 to 1970. He talks about
the failings and miss comings of New York’s historically controversial educational
system and its continued struggles to fairly educate communities of color. Detailing the
years of dismantling and reformations of districts and organizations like the UFT, Oliver
sheds light to why New York’s educational system is in its current state.
Rev. Oliver concludes this documentary by speaking about his book “No Flesh Shall
Glory” where he discusses his extensive religious research on racial supremacy and
interracial marriage. Rev. Oliver points out that after all his study there is no where
written that states any race is more superior than another and that it is not unethical to
love someone of another racial background. Rev. Oliver talks about the racial divide
that’s still happening in our country but shares his thoughts that things will get better.
Reverend Oliver is one of few freedom fighters left to tell his story in this millennial.

Director Biography – Baron McLean