Memphis Videos
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'Wednesdays in Mississippi' in Memphis |
Stars from the film Wednesdays in Mississippi appeared on a local Memphis, Tennessee, television station. Co-producer and director Marlene McCurtis joined Susan Goodwillie Stedman and Josie Johnson for a segment on WREG-CBS to discuss the film, shown in conjunction with Facing History and Ourselves’ Choosing to Participate traveling exhibit, on display September 6 through November 6, 2011, at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library. Wednesdays in Mississippi tells the story of the dozens of upper- and middle-class Northern black and white women who traveled to Jackson, Mississippi, during the summers of 1964 and 1965. The women left the North on Tuesday nights only to return to their homes on Thursdays in order to build support for the civil rights movement. |
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"The Right Thing at the Right Time": Choosing to Participate in Memphis |
Margot Stern Strom, interviewed by TV station WREG in her hometown of Memphis, describes Facing History and Ourselves’ Choosing to Participate exhibit there as “human behavior writ large, but with a concentration on upstanders.” Strom reflects on how her youth in Memphis—where “history wasn’t taught well and we didn’t talk about the colored and white water fountains or the colored-only day at the zoo sign while we took Civics classes”—influenced the development of Facing History, and the changes that have taken place there since her childhood. |
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Jayanni W.: "The Work that Facing History Does has a Place on the Global Stage" |
Jayanni W. learned from Facing History and Ourselves "to harness the power of education and use it for social change." While doing a research study in Northen Uganda, she discovered the connections between Facing History and Boston-based Insight Collaborative, through which Ugandan children learn "that they are not alone—that they too can transcend their pain and anguish to rebuild better lives—that they too can turn conflict and marginalization into opportunity." Related Materials: |
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Khadija H. Rediscovers her Own History through Facing History |
Khadija H., a Facing History student, and a survivor of Rwanda and Somalia, speaks at the 2007 Memphis Benefit Dinner about her understanding her own identity. |
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Teacher Hardy T. speaks at the 2007 Memphis Dinner |
Hardy T., a Facing History teacher, speaks at the 2007 Memphis Benefit Dinner
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Sherri McDonald Explains the Impact of Facing History on her Son |
Sherri McDonald explains the impact Facing History has had on her son. "At each Facing History seminar my son
learned not just the depths to which flawed humanity may sink, but the
heights to which the unquenchable human spirit can soar. He was
outraged by the cruelty; he was awestruck by the heroism. Facing
History and Ourselves transforms global struggles through meaningful
engagement with such acuity and clarity that students realize, perhaps
for the first time, 'That could be us....That could be me...'"He learned that how he chooses to live each day matters.
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Student Addison B. Reflects on What He Has Learned from Facing History |
Student Addison B. reflects on his experience with Facing History and Ourselves, learning to share personal views and respect the views of others. Through Facing History he has come to understand more about various historical events, and the motivations of people who participated. Using the example of Rosa Parks, he shares his understanding of how complicated history can be. He has leared to ask what is truth and what is myth, to think critically while avoiding cynicism and blame, and to appreciate the importance of civic participation.
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Reverend Lamar Weaver Discusses Bull Connors |
Rev. Weaver speaks about visiting segregationist Bull Connors' grave and the healing process. |
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Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth Recounts the Bombing of His Parsonage in 1956 |
Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth is the founder and leader of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. The organization was formed in 1956 after the Alabama attorney general shut down the NAACP in Alabama. On Christmas Eve, 1956 the Klan detonated a bomb outside Rev. Shuttlesworth's parsonage, intending to rid themselves of the leader who was surely a thorn in their side. They left him untouched and unshaken in his determination to ride Birmingham’s buses the next day. |
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Civil Rights Field Trip |
Mahal speaks of her experiences on a Facing History Civil Rights field trip that culminated at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. |
