Enjoying a New Documentary!

By: Nina Kendall

            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.

Resolve to Put More History in Your New Year

Love History? Feel like you are missing out. Want to introduce your family and friends to things you love? Try these suggestions below to put more history in your year.

·         Visit a historic site, state park, or a National Park. Many of these locals have low or no admission cost and feature programs for the entire family. Ask about a Junior Ranger program for kids to participate in. Look here to find a National Park: http://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm



Grand Teton National Park

·         Visit a museum. Any museum. Museums are great places to immerse yourself in history. Further many museums host events and programs throughout the year to engage people of all ages. If you are a Bank of America or Merrill Lynch

      debit or credit card holder, check here http://museums.bankofamerica.com/ to learn what museums you can visit for free the first weekend of each month.

 

Sutter's Fort State Historic Park

·         Read a good book. Consult the reviews on our site or use What Should I Read Next? http://whatshouldireadnext.com/index.php  to find a book based on ones you have enjoyed in the past.

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·         Volunteer. Find out how you can support local history.  Look here for http://www.volunteermatch.org/ opportunities to enjoy history and share it with others.




Ft. King George State Park

·         Attend a reenactment. See history live. Check here http://www.brucewetterau.com/find-a-reenactment-near-you.html to find a reenactment near you.
 

·         Play a Game. Check out our history game of the week recommendations.

 

 

Put History in your Holiday! Catch a Movie!

Want to put a little history in your holiday? Try a movie with historical ties. It is a great way to relax or share your passion for history with a loved one.             

Here are some options on DVD from 2013.                                     

·         Parkland (2013) is a movie about the events leading up to the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy. See a different perspective on this tragedy from 50 years ago.                 

·         A Hijacking (2013) will introduce you to challenges of Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean with the MV Rozen.  An international film with limited release in the United States, this film will engage you with real geopolitical drama       

·         Jobs (2013) is the biography of the Apple Innovator Steve Jobs. Sit back and enjoy a trip into the mind of the man who revolutionized the way we interact with technology.              

·         White House Down (2013) is a traditional action adventure film. Yet it has a strong political commentary and enough great interior shots of the White House to appeal to the history buff.             

Here are a few options for you to consider in the movie theater in December 2013.                              

·         Twelve Years a Slave (2013) is based on the story Solomon Northup a free black man from upstate New York who is abducted and sold into slavery before the Civil War. Plunge into Antebellum America and experience the period through the eyes of an individual.

·         Saving Mr. Banks (2013) is the story of how Disney’s “Mary Poppins" movie was made. Take a peek into Disney movie history.

·         Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) is the story of the life of Nelson Mandela. This movie is loosely based on his autobiography and provides the viewer with the opportunity a look into the life of a revolutionary leader.                

·         Lone Survivor (2013) is a movie about the war on terror. This move is based on the June 28, 2005 mission "Operation Red Wings". You can get a new view into modern warfare with this film.            

·          The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) is a biography of the life of Jordan Belfort. You can learn about his rise as a wealthy stockbroker and his fall. Could you make it on Wall Street?