“Free at Last” Screening and Panel Discussion, Feb. 15
The Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions will sponsor a screening of “Free at Last” followed by a panel discussion on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the Kelley Center.
A PBS documentary, “Free at Last” follows the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1968 organization of the Poor People’s Campaign. Nominated for an Emmy Award and winner of The Gold Lion for Best Television Documentary at the 1969 Venice Film Festival, “Free At Last” features footage of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the last few months of his life.
Documentary filmaker and panelist James Desmond explained, “We were with Martin Luther King Jr. during the last three months of his life as he organized the Poor People’s Campaign. On January 15, 1968, we were in the Sunday School room of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, on the first day of the Southern Christian Leadership Council’s planning sessions for a massive occupation of Washington D.C. by thousands of the country’s underclass, to attack the economic injustice in America. We followed him from his 39th birthday, what would be his final birthday, until the tragic turn in Memphis. He left a committed life behind, which we all can learn from, especially in 2017."
George Mintz, president of the Greater Bridgeport NAACP, Carolyn Vermont, former chairwoman of the Bridgeport chapter of the NAACP, documentary filmaker James Desmond and Rachelle Brunn-Bevel, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology, will join in a panel discussion following the screening. Elizabeth Hohl, assistant professor of history, will moderate the panel discussion.
"We are honored to host the screening of such an important piece of American culture during Black History Month,” said Bob Hannafin, dean of the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions.
This event is free and open to the public and sponsored by the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions, the Office of Student Diversity, Residence Life and the following departments: Black Studies, History, Sociology and Anthropology and Visual and Performing Arts.
For any questions about the screening please contact the Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions at gseapreply@fairfield.edu.
