One of the things my family enjoys most is going to the
movies. This month we are going to take a different approach to one of our favorite
pastimes. We are going to partake in the screening of several new documentaries
at the local library. Documentaries hold a different appeal than movies. I am
looking forward to enjoying history and storytelling in the weeks to come.
We
will have the chance to see the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) 4 new
documentaries about Civil Rights history. On Sundays for the next month the documentaries;
The Abolitionists,
Slavery by Another Name, Freedom Riders and The
Loving Story will be featured and discussed in our
community.. Each of these films will provide a unique look at some aspect of
Civil Rights history from the abolition of slavery to controversy regarding
laws prohibiting interracial marriage. We has a chance to catch selections from The Abolitionists this past weekend. It was well worth the trip. The insight into the childhood of William Lloyd Garrison was fascinating. I also enjoyed learning more about John Brown as well.
The Created Equal initiative developed by
the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History has
made it possible for these films to be shared in communities across the nation.
Some 500 communities were given the
resources and support need to screen the films and host community events about
Civil Rights. You can find a viewing near you or stream them online at Created Equal. Resources
to help you learn more about the films or to help teachers incorporate the
films in their classroom can be found on this page. Want to plan and host your own community event? The
National Endowment for the Humanities resources will help you plan this as
well.
No matter how you see
them take the time to catch these films and join in the conversation.
