THE GATE is the story of the first Contraband families and the community they created in Hampton, Virginia. Contrabands were enslaved Africans in the United States who sought protection behind Union lines during the Civil War.

This PBS documentary, THE GATE : The Untold Story of America’s First Contrabands follows descendants, Pamela, Tim, and Ajena, as they share their gripping ancestral stories of enslavement and self-emancipation during the early days of the Civil War. Featuring the family’s first-hand accounts, their forefathers find refuge by joining America’s first “Contrabands” at Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia. The film begins in 1861 with the genesis of the Contraband movement and community at the Fort. As a result, the Confederates burned the town of Hampton to the ground because they didn’t want it occupied by “negroes” and Union Troops.

These descendants recount their ancestor’s dangerous escapes, wartime struggles, and post-war accomplishments. They pay homage to the first three Contrabands, Frank Baker, Shepard Mallory, and James Townsend, who paved the way. They also establish meaningful connections with descendants of key historical figures including Fort Monroe’s Gen. Benjamin F. Butler.

We’ll film them as they meet previously unknown white, mixed-race, and black relatives, attend neglected burial sites, and broaden the meaning of family.