Understanding the history of your community and being proud of where you're from, is important to the residents of Princeville and the North Carolina Language and Life Project.

NCLLP will present the documentary film, "This Side of the River: Self-determination and Survival in the Oldest Black Town in America" on Friday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. in McIntyre Auditorium on Edgecombe Community College's Tarboro campus.

This event, part of the Tarboro-Edgecombe History Days next weekend, is free to the public. The documentary's co-directors and co-producers, Ryan Rowe and Drew Grimes, will be available after the viewing to answer questions.

"NCCLP looks for ways that our research efforts can benefit the towns that agree to help us with our research, and when we asked the town’s leadership what was needed, we came up with the idea for the documentary," said Rowe.

He added, "Princeville wanted something that would help attract people to come to town and to want to understand more about its rich history that has gone relatively untold and unknown for a long time."

The more Rowe researched Princeville, the more he realized he thought the town should be included into our national history books.

"This Side of the River" is a tribute to the history of Princeville and is the most recent film released in a series of documentaries produced by the NCLLP on the culture and heritage of North Carolina communities. Interviews with North Carolina historians and Princeville residents help to tell the story of a town settled by freed slaves in 1865.

In 1885, Princeville became the first town in the United States to be incorporated by blacks. This film highlights the town's survival through racial prejudice and economic hardship and showcases the town's self-determination to rebuild after the destruction by the flood from Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

"Every time I sit down and get to know another Princeville resident, I'm always struck by the down-to-earth intelligence and wisdom of the people there and I think there is something about being raised in this town that instills that in you," said Rowe.

He added, "I can't think of another story of another place that has had to go through so much- racism, economic depression, flooding, destruction, attempts to take it over or buy it out- and yet constantly defied the odds by not just surviving but reaching for great hights."

After watching this film, viewers will gain new insights on the lives of Princeville residents.

"For the people who are new to the area, they will be able to learn more about Princeville and for the current residents of the area, this film will broaden their understanding," said Edgecombe County historian Monika Fleming, "you will see there is pride (for the community) from the people that live there and you will be surprised over families who have been there for generations."

Rowe added, "The residents of Edgecombe County would benefit from watching this film because this rich and courageous history is theirs."