Surry Native Completes Film Exploring His Family’s Rich 1619 African Heritage

A transformative leap inspired Antonio Charity to leave Surry County, Virginia, after graduating from Howard University in 1984. He worked for ten months at Smithfield Foods, earning funds for his New York move. Recently, Charity ventured again, this time into filmmaking with “Where Charity Begins,” a documentary exploring his ancestors’ migration from Africa to Surry County in the 1600s. He returned to his roots to produce this work, illuminating his family’s ties to the first Africans in Virginia, tracing their legacy back to 1619.