Fred Kuwornu

2025-26 Artistic Research Fellow

The Black Saint

The Black Saint investigates the life and legacy of Saint Benedict the Moor, one of the first Black individuals to be canonized by the Catholic Church. Born in Sicily to enslaved African parents in the 1500s, his rise to sainthood and his veneration, particularly by African American Catholics, hold immense historical significance. This documentary explores Benedict’s global legacy, tracing his devotion across Europe and South America, while shedding light on how his story shaped religious and racial perception