Silver Dollar Road

Oh my gosh this is a heartbreaking story, the documentary tells it well and I wanted more and more and more of this one. If you have ever lived in certain regions for any length of time you are well aware of situations like the one that unfolds throughout Silver Dollar Road. Although it's not exclusive to certain regions because ...well...follow the money...but the overriding theme is awful to watch and know what's happening. Please watch with open eyes but don't keep them closed. I feel so very sorry for what this family had to deal with and the producers, directors and real people involved in this make points and reveal realities that should horrify anyone. I'm glad I watched this.

Silver Dollar Road_720p(480P)

source: Silver Dollar Road

I was born in Carteret County and live here now with my family. This county is rotten with corruption, past and present. What was done to these men is appalling and incomprehensible and the county should pay for it tenfold. Look at our past Sheriff's department corruption. This story needs national attention so that the Carteret County judicial system will be brought to it's knees and held accountable for the egregious acts committed upon Melvin and Licurtis. Let's investigate Adam's Creek Associates and the judge who granted Sheldon rights to the heirs property. I will guarantee you there were Carteret County commissioners on the planning board for the planned subdivision on Silver Dollar Road, and I would greatly assume that the last name Wheatley was involved in this escapade. Investigate and bring these men to justice, Carteret County needs a deep cleansing of it's corruption and quickly at that. Too many judges, lawyers, and a particular nameless Sheriff here who think they hold the cards to play out however they intend. Bring the State Bureau down to Carteret County and trust me they would have a field day with all they will find. Let's get started and turn this county around for the better, time to get rid of all the bad actors here.

100 years after the abolition of slavery Mitchell Reels bought land on the waterfront in North Carolina named Silver Dollar Road. This documentary directed by Raoul Peck is an interesting watch, but the 'nub' of this dispute originates within the family itself. All families are familiar with inheritance passed down to the next heir after the demise of the previous owner. If the inheritance is property then problems can arise within families if the new heir decides to sell that property for financial gain. This essentially begins as a dispute within the Reels family, Mitchell died without leaving any will and before his death he had said "don't let the white man have the land". However, I assume that a family member named, Uncle Shedrick also known as "Shade" who hadn't lived on the land for 27 years used the "Torrens Title" to sell the land to a new owner without the family's knowledge. They already had possession of the deed and a court order stating that they inherited and owned all the land previously purchased by Mitchell Reels. The Torrens Title Property Law had originally been introduced in South Australia; it was supposed to make the exchange of property title much easier. The Torrens Title had also been adopted by other countries and some American States like North Carolina, the problem is this legislation has a lot of loopholes that can be exploited by those obtaining land they had not inherited. In the beginning, the land in question would not have been looked upon as valuable to property developers, but in the present day it's considered to be because of its location. The injustice here is the imprisonment of Melvin and Licurtis Reels for eight years based on their choice not to be pressured into giving up the land they had lived on for the whole of their lives. Not to mention the obstruction from those within the justice and prison system to make it even harder for family members to visit them when they were unjustly incarcerated. This is nothing new, since the abolition of slavery 90% of African-Americans have lost their rights over land that they legally owned. Let's be truthful, white America began in Jamestown, Virginia, Native Americans were dispossessed, then white immigrants introduced the already practiced slavery into the America's to farm that stolen land for financial gain. Nothing has changed, after the revolutionary war, dispossession of native peoples, the enslavement of African American's, Civil War with each other and now the 21st Century stalemate of Republican and Democrat Government, "This Land Is OUR land" and so it goes on.

I watched this today and was so angry with our society, the lawyers who took advantage of this family, and our court system. When will society stop seeing color and instead see only character? I hope the filmmakers do a followup and reveal who tried to steal this property! It left me wanting to know the rest of the story. What happened to Melvin and Curtis? Who was appointed the conservator over the land? If I was an attorney, I would help this family for free. I pray that God intervene and stop this atrocity. Great job Amazon and especially to Raoul Peck who wrote and directed this documentary.

I moved to Cartertet County about 8 years ago. I can attest this county is run by rich white men and families who can trace their bloodlines back about 200 rears or more. There is a lot of corruption and greed in this county. There is a lot of racism here. I read comments in our newspaper calling the Reels story a lie. I believe the Reels' story 100%. I believe the family was cheated. It's a disgrace the Reels' spent any.time incarcerated. It hurts my heart they were shackled like animals. There are real criminals in this county who get away with everything. Carteret County should be absolutely mortified this happened and it's still not resolved. The attorneys who took this families money without helping them are a total disgrace. This county owes the brothers restitution. They need to give the family their land back now.

I haven't cried so much watching a documentary ever. This is so unfair and unjust. This is the truth for so many African American families and it just breaks my heart seeing people go through this. I pray that the family and other families alike get the justice that they deserve! Not only is this a compelling story, but it speaks volumes as to what so many people in this country has had to endure. Eights years in jail for trespassing? That's insane! I really hope that this family is able to file a civil suit against the city. They need to call a top civil attorney immediately for probono asap!

Moving and beautiful and raw and real. I hope this movie is recognized for its story and though it is threaded with messages of "white folk", many of the local white folk were in tears last night when it aired. The family members aren't being "racist" either. I was born and raised there and this story was evidently kept fairly quiet. I pray this is the beginning of the story, not the end. Today, you can call me a "Mad White Woman" because I didn't know the story. It's telling that no names were ever mentioned of any of the "players" who engineered this land grab. When that part of this story is revealed, then the whole truth will be known. When that is done, I believe real justice for this family might finally be achieved.

I watched Silver Dollar Road at a film viewing at ECSU's campus. I would have given it a 10 rating, but I did leave the viewing wanting more of the story. That isn't possible because its my understanding its still ongoing. But, I do think the production was quite stellar. The audience was attentive and on the edge of our seats throughout the entire film. I wish everyone could see this film. It really humanizes and magnifies the issue of heir land ownership in a way that you only hear about on a small scale level. I hope that filmmakers will do a follow-up, or even a series to share continued updates with those interested.