The service at the black Baptist church Sunday evening was certainly interesting. It began with prayer offered by a deacon – it was a singsong prayer, simple yet full of fervor, punctuated by many “Amens.” The deacon then read from the First Chapter of Genesis; right after this he burst into a song – a …
Mississippi Freedom Summer Project 1964 (Part 5)
On Saturday morning I put up the door for the Crafts Closet. One of the sons of Mr. Hawkins was eager to help. In the afternoon Roger and I went out calling on people to gather information on intimidation. News had already come in about two cross burnings during the previous night. The first house …
Continue reading “Mississippi Freedom Summer Project 1964 (Part 5)”
Mississippi Freedom Summer Project 1964: Part 3
I’m still trying to record the happenings of the first day in Shaw! Note that current reflections/comments are in blue print. After we arrived, we were taken to the one house where baths are available – once a week. While a couple of the men were bathing,we sat around and got acquainted. Doug Mann is a …
Continue reading “Mississippi Freedom Summer Project 1964: Part 3”
Mississippi Freedom Summer Project 1964: Part 1
Part 1: Introduction Recently the Presbyterian News Service sent out my article “BEYOND MISSISSIPPI BURNING: Reflections on the 50th Anniversary of the Mississippi Summer Freedom Project.” A recollection of my experiences as a minister volunteer during that hot August in 1964, while writing it I kept shortening, or eliminating entirely, some meaningful events and persons …
Continue reading “Mississippi Freedom Summer Project 1964: Part 1”
Freedom Summer (2014)
The powerful documentary, “Freedom Summer,” should be seen by every American who cares about civil rights. Click the movie’s title to read my entire review.
FOR US THE LIVING: The Medgar Evers Story (1983)
The story of NAACP’s Medgar Evers civil rights work in Mississippi & his murder in 1963 is powerfully depicted.
Freedom Song (2000)
A black Mississippi faher tries to revent his eager son from participating in SNCC-led Civil Rights freedom demonstrations in the early 1960s.
THE WAR (1994)
A Vietnam War vet father teaches his children tolerance and nonviolence, whereas at first the children engage in a war over a tree house, but come around.