Trouble Behind 1991
In the summer of 1919, the quiet railroad town of Corbin, Kentucky became the flashpoint for a violent racial reckoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Trouble Behind (1991) about?
This documentary uncovers the tragic events of 1919 in Corbin, Kentucky, when returning white veterans displaced African-American railroad workers, leading to a violent race riot that forced the Black community out of town.
Who directed Trouble Behind?
Director information is not available.
Who stars in Trouble Behind?
The documentary features firsthand accounts from long-time Corbin residents, descendants of those displaced, and the few Black families who remained in the town decades after the riot.
Is Trouble Behind (1991) worth watching?
As a concise historical reckoning with racial violence, Trouble Behind is more valuable than entertaining. Its unflinching interviews and archival insights make it essential viewing for anyone interested in the hidden fractures of American history.
How long is Trouble Behind?
Trouble Behind runs for 56 minutes.
About Trouble Behind (1991) — A forgotten 1919 race riot told by those who stayed and those who fled
In the summer of 1919, the quiet railroad town of Corbin, Kentucky became the flashpoint for a violent racial reckoning. As World War I veterans returned home, competition for jobs and status erupted into open hostility, culminating in a brutal race riot that drove the town's African-American residents out on freight cars.
Decades later, Trouble Behind (1991) returns to Corbin and gives voice to those still living with the scars. Through intimate interviews with residents—most of whom had never spoken of these events—filmmakers piece together a harrowing community memory. Shot when only a single Black family remained in town, the documentary captures a silence as heavy as the steam that once rose from the railroad tracks.