Stanley Nelson - “Freedom Riders” Documentary Screening and Discussion
On Tuesday, March 25th, Adam Goodheart hosted the Starr Center virtual screening event presenting Stanley Nelson’s “Freedom Riders,” a documentary on the freedom rides of 1961 where members of the interracial congressional group CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) rode through the Deep South of the United States to confront racism through non-violence. The Deep South was known for violating federal segregation laws. CORE took notice of the lack of attention towards civil rights of the southern US during JFK’s inauguration speech in 1961. The documentary covers all the disturbing and frightening scenes of the racism and adversity the freedom riders faced including a violent attack in Alabama in which the bus was burned and riders beaten.
After the screening, Nelson opened the floor for a Q&A, moderated by his colleague Carmel Curtis from Indiana University. Nelson talked about his origins and becoming a Film major and his pursuit of the story of the Freedom Rides. Nelson talked about the proposal and his hunt for photos and footage since day one of the project.
Patrick Nugent, deputy director of the Starr Center and history professor at Washington College, joined the video conference on behalf of the Reverend Brown to show a clip taken of the Bid Hubbards Protest where the Freedom Riders marched on the busy streets of Chestertown in 1962 held signs like “Let’s have dinner together” to protest the racist policies of the bar.
