Prom Night in Mississippi

Wednesday March 3rd was a big day for Whitman and BSU!

Thanks to the Intercultural Center, the Office of the President, and ASWC and WEB Events, Whitman was able to host Emmy award winning director Paul Saltzman and screen his latest documentary, Prom Night in Mississippi.

And BSU got in on all the fun! Five of our members and our advisor got the opportunity to have dinner with Paul before the film was presented, an offer we accepted graciously.

Us with Paul Saltzman, second from right, after dinner

We feasted on cranberries, salad, stuffed chicken, goat cheese, yummy pound cake and more in the new Glover-Alston Center, the delicious food provided by Bon Appetit.

It was a wonderful experience getting to know Paul personally, and his inspiration for this moving film. Tumi had a lot of questions! 

Over dinner, Paul shared with us a bit of his story and history and how by chance, this film chose him. He then enlisted the help of Morgan Freeman, and told us with three cameramen, how he managed to capture this changing of history in Charleston, Mississippi.

Afterwards it was off to Kimball Theater where the film was screened. Community members, faculty, and students alike all gathered for this memorable film. Seating was packed, leaving some eager audience members to stand against the wall or migrate up to the balcony seating.

And after a few opening words from the man himself, all were all ears as the film started. Here's a few words and background information on the film:

In 1997, Academy Award–winning actor Morgan Freeman offered to pay for the senior prom at Charleston High School in Mississippi under one condition: the prom had to be racially integrated. His offer was ignored.

In 2008, Freeman offered again. This time the school board accepted, and history was made. Charleston High School had its first-ever integrated prom. Until then, blacks and whites had had separate proms even though their classrooms have been integrated for decades.

Prom Night in Mississippi is a critically-acclaimed documentary about a small town and the struggles the students face to put on the high school's first-ever integrated prom. Read more at the official website promnightinmississippi.com

Here's a trailer!



The film was very inspirational and many felt connected with the film through the students of Charleston. Underneath all the racism they've faced, they're just normal teens trying (and succeeding) to change their world.

Undoubtedly, their first integrated prom night was not one they'd soon forget and neither will we!


Here are some stills from the film, courtesy of promnightinmississippi.com. All photos are by Catherine Farquharson:

Thank you Paul Saltzman! Charleston won't forget you and neither will we.

Love,

BSU