Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle Film Screening at MCC

MESA, Ariz. –– To mark the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s March on Washington, and to introduce four documentaries with riveting new footage illustrating the history of civil rights in America , the Mesa Community College (MCC) Library will offer a screening and discussion centered around the documentary Slavery by Another Name at its Southern and Dobson location (1833 W. Southern Ave.) on Thursday, April 10, at 6:30 p.m.

Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities that uses the power of documentary films to encourage community discussion of America’s civil rights history. NEH has partnered with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History to develop programmatic and support materials for the sites.

Mesa Community College is one of only 3 Arizona institutions awarded Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle, a set of four films chronicling the history of the Civil Rights Movement. The powerful documentaries, The Abolitionists, Slavery by Another Name, The Loving Story, and Freedom Riders, include dramatic scenes of incidents in the 150-year effort to achieve equal rights for all.

“These films chronicle the long and sometimes violent effort to achieve the rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independence — life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — for all Americans,” said Francine Tanori-Pote, MCC Librarian. “We are pleased to receive a grant from NEH to provide programming around these films. Mesa Community College is committed to developing programs that foster an environment of inclusion that integrates and celebrates diversity, where people can work and learn harmoniously and productively with others. We strive to promote intellectual discourse, leadership, and social justice among students, staff, faculty, and our surrounding community.”

Created Equal films were produced with NEH support, as part of its Bridging Cultures initiative, in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Each tells remarkable stories of individuals who challenged the social and legal status quo of deeply rooted institutions, from slavery to segregation. Created Equal programs bring communities together to revisit our shared history and help bridge deep racial and cultural divides in American civic life. Visit www.createdequal.neh.gov for more information.

The Created Equal film set and public programs have been made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, as part of its Bridging Cultures initiative, in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

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Contact
Francine Tanori-Pote, MCC Library, 480-461-7669, francine.tanori-pote@mesacc.edu

About Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College provides outstanding transfer and career and technical programs, workforce development, and life-long learning opportunities to residents of the East Valley area of Phoenix, Arizona. MCC excels in teaching, learning and empowering its more than 40,000 students who attend annually to succeed in a local and global community.  Mesa Community College is one of ten colleges that comprise the Maricopa County Community College District. For additional information please visit http://www.mesacc.edu.

About the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Founded in 1994, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History is a nonprofit organization that promotes excellence in the teaching and learning of American history. Programs include publications, teacher seminars, a national Affiliate School Program, traveling exhibitions, and online materials for teachers, students and the general public. Learn more online at www.gilderlehrman.org.

About the National Endowment for the Humanities
Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities. NEH grants enrich classroom learning, create and preserve knowledge, and bring ideas to life through public television, radio, museum exhibitions, and programs in libraries and other community places. Visit www.neh.gov  for additional information.

The Maricopa County Community College District is an EEO/AA institution and an
equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Source Details

Publication Date: 
Monday, April 7, 2014