Brother Future is a 1991 Historical Fiction/Science Fiction Made-for-TV Movie. TJ is a street-smart teenager from Detroit who rather sell stolen goods than do well in school. While selling stolen equipment, he is caught by a police officer who gives chase and during the chase, he is hit by a car. When TJ wakes up, he finds himself in the year 1822 in Charleston, South Carolina — and is mistaken for a runaway slave. TJ is sold into slavery to Mr. Cooper, and from there he has to deal with the loss of his freedom, is thrust in the middle of a slave revolt, and has to find his way back home.
The film stars Phill Lewis as TJ and Carl Lumbly as Denmark Vesey
. Moses Gunn, Michael Burgess, Bernard Addison, Frank Converse, Akosua Busia, and Vonetta McGee also star. The film also has been used as School Study Media.
The film has the following tropes:
- Beautiful Slave Girl: Caroline, a female slave that TJ instantly starts to take a liking to. But Caroline is in love with Josiah.
- Category Traitor: Zeke, the slave overseer. He is a slave just like the rest but he enjoys his position of power over the slaves. He also is the one to give Mr. Cooper the heads up about Denmark Vesey's plan.
- Character Development: TJ starts off as a self-centered jerk who barely cared about school and Black leaders. When transported back to 1822, TJ is instantly humbled and realizes how his selfish actions impact others. The act that finally sends him back to his own time is selflessly letting Josiah and Caroline escape and have a chance at freedom, costing him his life in 1822.
- Coming of Age Story: Through his trials and upon returning to his time, TJ learns to be a more responsible person and take pride in his heritage.
- Fish out of Temporal Water: Boy, is TJ ever. His adjustment to the the 1800s is very rough, and he even gets whipped for trying to run away at one point.
- Fortune Teller: Martilla is a house slave that can see visions and read fortunes, and by reading TJ's palm, she immediately knows that he doesn't belong in their time.
- Made a Slave: TJ, upon traveling back to the 1800s. Once he wakes up, he's caught by slave catchers and almost immediately sold.
- Revenge Before Reason: Still stinging from being whipped by Zeke, TJ tries to get revenge by trying to implicate him in stealing a book from Mr. Cooper - to get Josiah in trouble instead in which Josiah is whipped to the point where he can barely stand. TJ is instantly remorseful and even realizes that trying to get Zeke in trouble was terrible as well.
- Slave Liberation: Denmark Vesey, a freeman, is trying to lead a slave insurrection and was actively recruiting slaves to fight back. In real life, it did not end well, but he still inspired other abolitionists.
- Slavery Is a Special Kind of Evil: Slavery and the slave owners are the antagonists in the film, and the film doesn't flinch on showing the brutality of the institution. Slaves are whipped harshly, perform back-breaking labor, and aren't allowed to read or write. TJ even feels some empathy Zeke, who despite being an overseer, is a victim and still a slave.
- That Was Not a Dream: During the first act, TJ is in denial about being transported back in the past and thinks he'll wake up soon. He gets a very rude awakening by Zeke by getting punched in the face.
