RENEGADES: THOMAS "BLIND TOM” WIGGINS travels audiences through Wiggins’ remarkable lifetime and his unmatched musical oeuvre. Were Thomas Wiggins not Black, disabled, nor enslaved, his legacy would have endured through history as did those of his less successful contemporaries.
This film tells the story of Thomas “Blind Tom” Wiggins (1849-1908). He was the first Black international musical superstar and the first African American to perform at The White House. He toured throughout the U.S., South America, and Europe becoming the highest grossing pianist of his time yet he received only $20 per month and two percent of the net proceeds of his services. Because Wiggins was blind from birth, had high support needs and observable differences that today would likely lead to an autism diagnosis, a guardianship agreement rooted in his disability status ensured that his enslavers became his guardians after Emancipation. He remained their ward for the rest of his life.
“Renegades: Thomas Wiggins” raises questions that are central to the movement towards disability rights, equity, and justice such as:
Under which circumstances, if any, is it appropriate to remove an individual’s agency?
Who gets to determine an individual’s worth?
Who gets to determine whether or not an individual is “competent” and by what means and criteria?
Who gets to define “disability”?
How much have society’s attitudes towards African Americans and our contributions evolved and what does that mean for contemporary musicians and music lovers?
“Renegades: Thomas Wiggins” will leave audiences with an expanded understanding of the liberties taken under the era of enslavement, of disability rights and justice as related to guardianship and conservatorship, and long overdue knowledge of a Black legend whose unsung influence lives on in the music and musicians of today.
Marsha Hallager is a multifaceted writer, producer and director who creates groundbreaking and critical content. Hallager started her career in radio to which she credits as her entrée into the world of television and film production. She is an accomplished independent documentary filmmaker with a keen sense of storytelling.
Hallager’s achievements are multi-disciplined – she has worked across various genres, including unscripted to scripted television to horror films and feature documentaries. Hallager served as one of the EPs and producers on the award-winning documentary, One Child Left Behind: The Untold Atlanta Cheating Scandal. She just wrapped PBS American Masters: Renegades where she directed/produced the Thomas Wiggins episode and wrote/produced the Celestine Tate Harrington episode and is beginning production on PBS American Experience: The Curb Cut Effect.
World Premiere - The Kennedy Center 2024
Music Supervisor - Carvin Haggins
Editor - Danya Abt
