Every atombelongingto me asgood belongsto you.

This is an experiment in using documentary and poetry to reveal the threads that tie us together—as people, as states, and as a nation. For two years, filmmaker Jennifer Crandall has crisscrossed this deep Southern state, inviting people to look into a camera and share a part of themselves through the words of Walt Whitman. The 19th century poet’s “Song of Myself” is a quintessential reflection of our American identities.

The Power and Relevanceof Whitman. Today.

This is an experiment in using documentary and poetry to reveal the threads that tie us together—as people, as states, and as a nation. For two years, filmmaker Jennifer Crandall has crisscrossed this deep Southern state, inviting people to look into a camera and share a part of themselves through the words of Walt Whitman. The 19th century poet’s “Song of Myself” is a quintessential reflection of our American identities.

Filmmaker'sStatement

I believe in listening and I believe in creating spaces intimate enough for voices to be heard.I believe in Alabama and her people. So I wanted to try to amplify her voices. To do this, a patchwork team of us set out and began to make a 52-part documentary film. We crisscrossed the state, made acquaintances with strangers and asked: "Might we pull out our cameras to capture a few tiny moments from your life?" And people said yes! (This still surprises me every time.) And then we said: "There's a catch. Can we do it while you read some poetry?" I have to say, you Alabamians stepped up to the plate. You said, "Yes, I believe that’d still be all right." Thank you. We appreciate you working with us to create a space where your voices and the voices of others can be heard. We enjoy listening and learning from you. And we expect others will too. For those of you out there we haven't yet met, we're not quite done so don't be surprised if we come knocking on your front door. Or send us an email with ideas for who to talk with next! Below are some questions we've been asked along the way. And here are some answers. If you have more questions for us, let us know. We're happy to hear from you. Jennifer Crandall

Jennifer CrandallArtist-in-Residence

Born in Ethiopia and raised in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Haiti, part Chinese and part white, Jennifer is asked more often than not, “what are you?” Not finding the answer to that question simple, or easy, Jennifer became a journalist and filmmaker so she could explore themes of identity and connection. She worked at The Washington Post where she created the Emmy nominated video series onBeing. With "Whitman, Alabama," Jennifer returns to that question, "what are you?" while hoping to raise the volume on voices from the American South. Her previous work has received a Knight-Batten Special Distinction Award for Innovation, an Online News Association Award for Innovation, awards from the White House News Photographers Association and recognition from the American Film Institute. For two years, filmmaker Jennifer Crandall has crisscrossed this deep Southern state, inviting people to look into a camera and share a part of themselves through the words of Walt Whitman. The 19th century poet’s “Song of Myself” is a quintessential reflection of our American identities.

Bob MillerPhotographer

Bob is a Birmingham photographer and filmmaker who regularly provides coverage of contemporary social issues for editorial clients such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and MSNBC.com. His most recent documentary, Strong Enough To Fight, received international broadcast distribution in 2013 after screening in numerous film festivals.

Pierre KattarPhotographer

Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Pierre grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ. In 1998, Pierre was hired as the web developer for washingtonpost.com's pioneering multimedia section. That's where he discovered the art of video storytelling and became a full-time video journalist. After 10 years at the Post, Pierre began his own independent filmmaking company. He makes films with hopes of peeling back the layers of prejudice, racism and ignorance. He's a director, director of photography and an editor.

Liz HildrethWriter

Liz Hildreth is a digital content designer and a poet. She is a member of "Poems While You Wait," a group of Chicago poets who set up typewriters and write poems for $5 on any topic. She was first drawn to poetry at 13 when she stumbled across the Whitman poem "Once I Pass'd through a Populous City." She decided then that she would grow up one day to be sad and tremulous and to walk through a big city, totally devastated in love.

Chip BrantleyConsulting Producer

Chip is senior lecturer of emerging media in the department of journalism at the University of Alabama. He has written for many publications, including Slate, Gourmet, and the Oxford American, and his book, The Perfect Fruit (Bloomsbury), tells the creation story of the pluot.

AL.COMStudios Team

Justin Yurkanin is the Director of AL.com Studios, based in Birmingham, Alabama, leading a team of a dozen video journalists. He has more than 13 years experience as a photojournalist, videographer, producer and editor. Ginnard Archibald is an AL.com Studios video producer and photographer from Birmingham; his other work includes portrait and events photography. Adam Schwartz is an AL.com Studios video producer and filmmaker from Birmingham and a former Assistant Professor of media production at the University of Alabama.

The Power and Relevanceof Whitman. Today.

This is an experiment in using documentary and poetry to reveal the threads that tie us together—as people, as states, and as a nation. For two years, filmmaker Jennifer Crandall has crisscrossed this deep Southern state, inviting people to look into a camera and share a part of themselves through the words of Walt Whitman. The 19th century poet’s “Song of Myself” is a quintessential reflection of our American identities.

FAQ

How did this project come about?

In 2013, I visited Alabama for a short-term assignment for Alabama Media Group. It was the first time I had ever been. During the trip, I found myself captivated by Alabama, the feel of it and the people I met here. I've spent time in places all over the world and few places have taken hold of me like Alabama has. When I was invited to be the Artist-in-Residence for Alabama Media Group, I came up with the idea of making a series of portraits hoping to show off Alabama's people – but instead of using a traditional interview format, I wanted to use a poem as the common thread. And beyond that, let people speak for themselves.

Who was Walt Whitman?

According to the Poetry Foundation he is "America's world poet." According to The Walt Whitman Archive he is "arguably America's most influential and innovative poet." You can read more about Walt Whitman at either place. Who was he? You decide!

Why is the project called Whitman, Alabama?

Whitman, Alabama is a project tied together with a poem. But this isn't a poetry project so much as a project by, for and about a diverse set of people. Like music isn't the party — people are the party, music just draws people to the party— the poetry isn’t the project. The poem is that shared background against which people can do people-like things: talk, laugh, cry, observe, work, sing, wait, rest, and hopefully just be. We brought filmmakers and writers and storytellers and regular people together to build something new — to have and create a particular kind of experience. Today, in some ways, America is at its most divisive. The economy. The environment. Immigration. Taxes. Race. Religion. The issues go on. Here, we hold those things still, but not with division. Whitman, Alabama, est. 2017, is an experiment in revealing those threads that tie us together—as individuals, as states, as a nation, inside of a shared universe. All of us poets. And so, in that spirit, we invite you to be with us. To take part. To see and hear the whole. To exist as you are; that is enough.

What is the project?

We’re inviting Alabamians from every pocket and corner of the state to share moments of their lives on camera as we capture them reciting verses from Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself.” In other words, southerners are kindly lending their voices and opening up their worlds to us so that we might see an epic poem about American identity re-animate. Over the course of a year, week by week, stanza by stanza, the entirety of the poem will be brought to life.

What is "Song of Myself"?

Walt Whitman published a book-length poem called "Song of Myself" in 1855. It was long. Epic really. Lewd. Lusty. Shocking. Scandalous. Weird. Here's why: It didn't rhyme. It used lists, stories, language that was "simple as grass." It was written in first person. And the first person wasn't a hero. He was an American, a commoner, narrating for the masses. It wasn't about things. No Grecian urn. No Nightingale. It was about sex, race, religion, immigration, politics. Everything we're wrestling with today. The poem centered itself around one idea: Everyone is an individual —everyone is connected — we all contain many selves. Despite being considered trashy, disgusting, and the worst thing ever written, "Song of Myself" is now considered to be a perfect embodiment of democratic ideals. The quintessential American poem. (We leaned on WhitmanWeb a lot when we came across parts of the poem we couldn’t make heads or tail of. Please check it out. It's a great resource. If you prefer good old hard copy, take a look here!)

Why not use a contemporary poet?

I would say we did use a southern poet. Many of them. Walt Whitman probably wrote the most all-encompassing poem ever about American identity in "Song of Myself." It's a sprawling, unconventional lot of poetic verses that describes an unconventional sprawling lot of people. The man managed to draw from a deep well of empathy to describe the awesomeness of America and her diversity, and that's what we wanted at the heart of this project. And I like the idea of cheekily co-opting the work of a dead white Yankee and re-envisioning it through contemporary Southern voices. I think we’ve found a neat way of mixing DNA here by joining these voices with Whitman’s. We've taken Whitman up on his offer to be co-creators, co-authors, of “Song of Myself.”

"I celebrate myself, and sing myself,And what I assume you shall assume,For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you."

WALT WHITMAN, "SONG OF MYSELF"