A House Divided is a historical and biographical drama which premiered on US television (Showtime) in 2000.
It was released on VHS. As far as I know, it has never been released on DVD.
This is a shame, because it is a great drama.
Here is some basic information about it:
** Directed by John Kent Harrison
** Written by Paris Qualles
** Available on YouTube
** Run time: ca. 90 minutes
This drama is based on the book Woman of Color, Daughter of Privilege: Amanda America Dickson, 1849-1893 by Kent Andersen Leslie (1995) (1996).
Both film and book are based on a true story.
The cast includes the following:
** Jennifer Beals as Amanda America Dickson (1849-1893)
** Sam Waterston as her father: David Dickson (1809-1885)
** Lisa Gay Hamilton as her mother: Julia Frances
** Tim Daly as Amanda’s lawyer: Charles W. Dubose
** Ron White as David’s brother: Henry Dickson
** Sean McCann (1935-2019) as Henry’s lawyer:
John C. Rutherford
** Gerard Parkes (1924-2014) as Judge Stevens
(the first trial)
** Craig Eldridge as Judge Cottner
(the second trial)
Since this drama is based on a true story, the basic facts are part of the public record. They are not a secret. This is why I feel free to mention some of them here.
While this drama is based on a true story, it is not a documentary film. It is a dramatized version of events. Not everything happened exactly as show in this drama, but the basic story is true.
Part one
Amanda America Dickson was born in Georgia in 1849.
Her father David Dickson was one of the richest farmers in Hancock County.
Her mother Julia Frances was only 13 years old at the time, and she was one of the slaves on Dickson’s farm.
Amanda was a mulatto (half-black, half-white), but she was so light-skinned that she could pass as a white person.
Her father accepted her as his daughter and gave her an education that was suitable for a rich farmer’s daughter. Although technically a slave until the end of the Civil War (1861-1865), she was treated as a free person all her life.
There are two story-lines in the film:
** The first line begins around 1849 when Amanda is born and continues (step by step) until she is around 25 years old.
** The second line begins in 1885 when Amanda’s father David Dickson dies and the contents of his will are made public.
The film flips back and forth between the two story-lines.
According to David’s will, Amanda will inherit the estate and most of his assets, making her one of the richest women in the state of Georgia and the richest woman of color in the state of Georgia. The will is contested by David’s brother Henry, who says it is unfair.
In the beginning of 1885, the case is heard in probate court where the presiding judge is R. H. Lewis (who is called Judge Stevens in the film).
At the end of 1885, the case is heard in a superior court where the presiding judge is Samuel Lumpkin (who is called Judge Cottner in the film). In the second trial, a jury decided on the verdict.
According to an on-screen message at the end of the film, the case was heard for a third time in 1887, this time in the Supreme Court of Georgia.
In each case, the result was the same: the contents of the will were accepted. Henry Dickson lost every time he tried to contest the will, and Amanda America Dickson became the richest women of color in the state of Georgia.
Part two
The story of Amanda America Dickson is interesting, because it takes place in a southern state. Until the end of the Civil War in 1865, African-Americans in Georgia were slaves, while white people were free.
After the end of the Civil War, when slavery was abolished, southern states began to introduce laws of segregation instead in order to maintain a sharp distinction between blacks and whites.
David’s brother Henry contested the will, because he was white and because he felt Amanda did not deserve to inherit her father’s estate, because her mother was black.
But, as Amanda’s lawyer says: any man may donate his estate and his assets to anyone that he chooses, and no one should be able to change that.
In each of the three trials this argument was accepted, and Henry could not do anything about it.
As stated above, this drama is based on a true story. While the drama follows the true story in all major points, there is one significant deviation from the true story:
In 1866, Amanda married Charles Eubanks, who was David’s nephew and a veteran from the Civil War.
They had two sons: Julian (born 1866) and Charles (born 1870), but the marriage did not last.
Amanda left Charles and returned to her father’s farm in 1870. As far as I know, her husband died in 1873.
In the drama, we are told that Amanda wants to marry a veteran from the Civil War, but her father is against it.
She joins him anyway, but when they have a falling out, she leaves him.
In the drama, there are no children. They have been eliminated from the script. Perhaps the movie-makers did not wish to complicate the story with too many characters.
As for the relationship between David Dickson and Julia Francis, it is difficult to know if it is portrayed correctly in the drama.
Until the end of the Civil War, Julia was a slave, but she had a privileged position. After the end of the Civil War, when slavery was abolished, she was a free person. She remained on the farm where she had an important position as a housekeeper.
Conclusion
A House Divided is based on a true story and, as far as I can tell, the major points of the film are accurate.
The script is well written, and the actors play their roles well. All controversial issues are covered and discussed. It seems to be an honest and accurate account.
The story of Amanda America Dickson is an important chapter in the history of Georgia, the history of the southern states, and the history of the US.
If you are interested in the history of the United States – in particular the question of human rights – this drama is definitely something for you.
It is highly recommended.
PS # 1. The first volume of Georgia Women edited by Ann Short Chirhart and Betty Wood (2009) includes a chapter about Amanda America Dickson. As you can guess, it is written by Kent Andersen Leslie.
PS # 2. Paris Qualles has written the script for several movies and television programs, including The Rosa Parks Story which premiered on television in 2002.
PS # 3. Dear Senator is a book about Essie Mae Washington-Williams, who has a white father and a black mother.
Her father Strom Thurmond (1902-2003) was a US Senator from South Carolina for 48 years. As a politician he supported segregation in the South.
Shortly after his death in 2003, Essie revealed that she was his daughter. Her mother Carrie Butler had worked as a maid for the Thurmond family.
He had been involved with Carrie when he was 22 and she was 16, even though he was white and she was black. While he provided financial assistance to Carrie and Essie, he never acknowledged Essie as his daughter.
This information was only revealed after his death in 2003. The book about Essie’s life was published in 2005 (hardcover) and 2006 (paperback).
*****
Woman of Color,
Daughter of Privilege:
Amanda America Dickson,
1849-1893
by Kent Andersen Leslie
(Hardcover 1995)
(Paperback 1996)
*****
In May 2021,
a historical marker for
Amanda America Dickson
was erected in Augusta, Georgia
*****
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