Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INDIANAPOLIS, IN.,AUGUST 2018 – . The documentary titled, “The Color of Medicine: The
Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital” tells the untold history of the exceptional medical training
of African-American doctors and nurses at an all black operated hospital in St. Louis from 1937
to 1979. This film features Dr. Earle U. Robinson Jr., a 2nd generation physician and alumnus
from Homer G. Phillips Hospital , who shares his unique and colorful personal story at “The G,”
and his father’s, Dr. Earle Robinson, Sr., who was one of the first 27 black graduates of this
ground-breaking facility.
On Friday, October 26th, “The Color of Medicine” will be screened in Indianapolis at The
Indianapolis Central Library’s Clowes Auditorium.
In the spring of 2015, an inspiring story later became a reality when filming began for a
documentary “The Color of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital.” The
documentary captures the history of the medical training of over two-thirds of all
African-Americans in the nation during the period from its opening in 1937 to its closing in 1979.
The genesis of the film was prompted by Dr. Earle U. Robinson Jr., who practiced medicine in
Indianapolis from 1963-2009. Dr. Earle U. RobinsonSr., practiced medicine in Evansville, IN
from 1939 to 1965. Dr. Earle U. RobinsonSr., also served at the Indianapolis VA Hospital in
adjudications in psychiatry after leaving Evansville, IN.
“The Color of Medicine” film proudly captures the rise and fall of Homer G. Phillips Hospital
along with heartfelt stories from other doctors, nurses and community members chronicling the
hospital’s vibrant years, in remembrance of the significance of Homer G. Phillips Hospital and its
valuable place in African-American history.
The Color of Medicine teams’ driving force in completing this film was based on the importance
to preserving black history at its finest and welcome any support given to help share this
important story to all those who will be inspired by it. The Color of Medicine team:
Executive-Producer/Co-Director Joyce Fitzpatrick, Co-Producer/Co-Director Brian Shackelford
and Dr. Earle Robinson’s Jr’s daughter, Co-Producer Rebecca Robinson, who wanted to create
THE COLOR OF MEDICINE: THE STORY OF HOMER G. PHILLIPS HOSPITAL
A Film by Joyce Marie Fitzpatrick and Brian Shackelford
a documentary after being inspired by her father’s blog that chronicled his early years as a
medical student and later following in his father’s footsteps to train at Homer G. Phillips.
Over the past 3 years, The Color of Medicine team has created an extraordinary social media
presence, launched a successful60 day crowdfunding campaign in 2017, which helped raise
funds to start production of the film, along with in-kind services from the Directors of the film,
along with other supporters donations to who have helped get some of the post-production
completed.
Completed for private screenings in March of 2018, the film has premiered to sold out
audiences from the Missouri History Museum to Washington University and other
universities and health institutions throughout St. Louis, and is continually being requested for
screenings nationwide. It has also being accepted into various film festivals nationally [Capital
City Black Film Festival in Austin, Texas - Founded by award-winning actress Viola Davis and
her husband Julius Tennon] and internationally [The St, Louis International Film Festival] and
[The Montreal International Black Film Festival in Canada - the largest black film festival in
Canada].
The Color of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital has also been chosen as an
honoree of the Office of Diversity Programs’ Homer G. Phillips Public Health Lecture Series and
will be recognized by Mark Wrighton, the Chancellor of Washington University; David
Perlmutter, the Dean of Washington University School of Medicine; Will Ross, M.D. M.P.H.,
Associate Dean for Diversity and Lisa Stevenson, M.B.A. Assistant Dean for Student Diversity,,
Lisa Stevenson on October 12 ,2018 at Washington University.
The Color of Medicine has been featured on St. Louis Public Radio/NPR NEWS, FOX 2 and
KSDK 5 St. Louis, The St. Louis American Newspaper and on several podcasts radio shows
including Dr. Boyce Watkins and former senior producer of the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Ms.
Nikki Woods. We are also honored to announce we were nominated and won the “ Washington
University Lecture Series Award” which will be formally presented to The Color of Medicine
production team during a screening at Washington University this fall. If your organization would like to be a sponsor of the Indianapolis screening, please contact
“The Color of Medicine” atinfo@thecolorofmedicine.com .
THE COLOR OF MEDICINE: THE STORY OF HOMER G. PHILLIPS HOSPITAL
A Film by Joyce Marie Fitzpatrick and Brian Shackelford Sponsorships will allow “The Color of Medicine” Production Team to host an outstanding event in Indianapolis and continue with post production of the film. Sponsors will be included in event programs, press and website. Sponsors will also be cordially invited to our pre-screening reception in the beautiful Center for Black Literature & Culture. The Screening is scheduled on October 26,2018 at Clowes Auditorium at the Indianapolis Central Library from 5pm-9pm. This event is FREE and open to the public.
For more information about: The Color Of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital., or
to schedule an interview please contact producer Rebecca Robinson directly at 678.622.5221 or
electronic mail at info@thecolorofmedicine.com
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BE A PART OF HISTORY
Support the making of The Color of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital
(Los Angeles) APRIL 10, 2017 – “The Color of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital” is a documentary that tells the untold history of an all black operated hospital in St. Louis and the exceptional medical training it provided to African-American doctors and nurses from 1937 to 1979.
The film features Dr. Earle U. Robinson Jr., a 2nd generation physician, and alumnus from Homer G. Phillips hospital, who not only shares his unique and colorful personal story but also his father’s who was one of the first 27 black graduates of this ground-breaking facility.
Dr. Earle U. Robinson Jr. stated, "Before these events are lost with my passing, I want to make certain people have the opportunity to learn about such a monumental part in history. The best times I've had in my life were the years I spent at Homer G. Phillips.”
The origin of Homer G. Phillips hospital began when black attorney and civil rights activist Homer G. Phillips, convinced the city of St. Louis to allocate 3 million dollars from an 87 million dollar bond for a state-of-the-art hospital for its Black citizens, who were being treated in wretched segregated facilities. Tragically attorney Phillips was murdered before the hospital doors would open, and the facility would be named after the man, who had fought so hard for his community’s medical needs.
Filming began on the documentary in the summer of 2015. An Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign was launched in April of 2017 to raise the funds needed to help bring this film to audiences.
A second crowdfunding campaign will be launched before 2018.
Indiegogo crowdfunding link:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-color-of-medicine-homer-g-phillips-hospital#/
The Color of Medicine official trailer: https://vimeo.com/225803698
The production team for The Color of Medicine includes: Joyce Marie Fitzpatrick (ABC, NBC, CW/UPN, BET, E! Entertainment, PBS, Discovery Channel), Brian Shackelford (20th Century Fox, VH1, MTV, Ryan Seacrest Productions), Mario E. Page (Braxton Family Values, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Bridezilla’s) and Beverly Hunter (Family Matters, Moesha, Girlfriends, The Parkers, The Proud Family).
# ENDS #
For more information or to arrange an interview about The Color of Medicine contact:
Rebecca Robinson Williams, 678.622.5221 or thehomergphillipsproject@gmail.com.
Facebook: @thecolorofmedicine * Twitter: @TCOMdocumentary * Instagram: @the_color_of_medicine
www.thecolorofmedicine.com
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