SPLC Creates Teacher's Guide for HBO Documentary
In partnership with HBO and director-producer Paul Saltzman, the Southern Poverty Law Center has created a six-lesson teacher's guide for use with HBO's documentary "Prom Night in Mississippi," which chronicles the social boundaries crossed by students when their high school hosted its first integrated prom.
In partnership with HBO and director-producer Paul Saltzman, the Southern Poverty Law Center has created a six-lesson teacher's guide for use with HBO's documentary "Prom Night in Mississippi," which chronicles the social boundaries crossed by students when their high school hosted its first integrated prom.
The lessons provide activities to help students explore the film's themes of tradition, change, love, fear, judgment and opportunity. The 90-minute film debuts on Monday, July 20, at 9 p.m. Eastern on HBO East and will be shown on various HBO channels through Aug. 24.
"We are extremely proud of this opportunity to help teachers highlight the important lessons of this documentary," said Lecia Brooks, director of the SPLC's Teaching Tolerance program. "The film bears witness to the courageous acts undertaken by young people to resist long-held racist notions in their community."
"Prom Night in Mississippi" is the story of Charleston High School's first racially integrated prom, which was held in 2008. The event was held after the school accepted actor Morgan Freeman's offer to pay for the senior prom.
Freeman, a Charleston native, had one condition — that both black and white students be allowed to attend. Parents in Freeman's hometown had traditionally organized and sponsored segregated proms. Charleston High School is about 70 percent black and 30 percent white.
Interviews and video diaries are used to chronicle the event, which was met with resistance by some white parents who prohibited their children from attending and organized a separate "white only" prom.
"By holding its first integrated prom, Charleston High — with a push from Morgan Freeman — has struck a major blow for unity and equality," Director Paul Saltzman said on the HBO website.
"Prom Night in Mississippi" is an official selection of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. It marks the feature directing debut of Saltzman, a two-time Emmy-winning TV and film producer-director with 300 productions to his credit.
Visit the "Prom Night in Mississippi" website for more information.
