Here’s a helpful breakdown of in the film Free State of Jones (and the historical figure he’s based on):
In the 2016 historical drama , the character of Moses Washington , portrayed by Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali, serves as a powerful symbol of the African American struggle for liberation and political agency during and after the Civil War. While the film’s protagonist, Newton Knight, was a real historical figure, Moses is a fictional composite character . He was created by director Gary Ross to represent the actual experiences of the hundreds of runaway slaves who sought refuge in the Mississippi swamps and collaborated with white Confederate deserters to resist the Southern rebellion. The Role of Moses in the Rebellion free state of jones moses
Moses remained a key figure in this mixed-race community. He settled near the Knight enclave in the Soso, Mississippi area. The alliance between the Knight family and the Washington family (later often referred to as the "Knight Black" community) was one of mutual protection in a hostile environment. Here’s a helpful breakdown of in the film