"The Mothers" to Screen at Duke for Women's History Month

A colleague reached out to ask if I would be willing to show my documentary, "The Mothers," during a Women's History Month program at the Duke Clinical Research Institute. I didn't need to think on it. Yes, I told her. Even though I finished the 10-minute film in 2012, the topic sadly is evergreen: The loss of loved ones to violence. I will always want to share the stories of the courageous women in the film, Diane Jones and Mina Hampton. Their sons were murdered in Durham, North Carolina, where I live and work. 

Through the death of their sons, these two mothers found each other – and the strength to carry on. While I worked on this documentary through the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke, Diane and Mina co-led the Durham chapter of Parents of Murdered Children, a support group for families and friends whose loved ones have been killed.

"Helping somebody else understand that this pain is deep in your soul, being there for another mother … it helps me,” Diane says.

Thank you to Gina Streaty, engagement and diversity specialist in Human Resources at the Duke Clinical Research Institute, for this invitation to show the film and raise awareness in our communities.

“The Mothers” is dedicated to survivors left behind to carry on.