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Before the Memories Fade: Voices from the Civil Rights Movement 

In highlighting emotionally powerful and gripping stories from the foot soldiers of the Civil Rights Movement, this film takes a fresh approach to evoking that tumultuous chapter of American history. 

That history is brought back to vivid life through original interviews with the unsung foot soldiers—the students, ordinary citizens, community organizers, musicians, and journalists—who formed the backbone of the movement. 

The film features interviews with an extraordinarily wide variety of movement participants. These include many prominent leaders such as Rep. John Lewis, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Dr. Dorothy Height, Dave Dennis, Dr. Benjamin Hooks, former Mayor Marion Barry, and Rev. Walter Fauntroy.

But those voices are rounded and deepened by the voices of the unsung heroes of movement that are featured in this film. 

As the Civil Right Movement passes its fifty-year mark, the original interviews in this film are likely to be among the last with many of the people who made the movement a success and forged a new moral center for our nation. 

It's not just African American history, it's American History.

DVD on sale: $10.00

Before the Memories Fade: Voices from the Civil Rights Movement has won, Gold Aurora Award and 2 Telly Awards for content, execution and creativity.  

 
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Restoring Honor: The Case of Chaplain Plummer

This film tells the story of Henry Vinton Plummer a Maryland slave who was appointed as the first African American Chaplain in the regular Army. A Chaplain’s appointment was equivalent to the rank of Captain which at that time in American history, created conflict with the white officers on the base.

This strife, in combination with a disgruntled African American enlisted man's questionable accusations, led Chaplain Plummer to face the charge of "Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman." After a suspect court martial, Chaplain Plummer was dishonorably discharged in 1894. Over one hundred years later, the film recounts the dedicated efforts of The Committee to Clear Chaplain Plummer, which is led by Committee President the Reverend L. Jerome Fowler, who is also Chaplain Plummer's great nephew.

Composed of family, clergy, historians, scholars, and retired military personnel, The Committee waged a four-year legal and PR campaign to convince the Army to reinstate Chaplain Plummer and clear his name. The Committee worked tirelessly to research the case and garner support from public leaders and noted officials including Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich and the Maryland House and Senate.

DVD on sale: $10.00

Restoring Honor: The Case of Chaplain Plummer has won, Platinum Best of Show Aurora Award and a Silver Telly for excellence of content, execution and creativity.  

 
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The Soul of Athens: A History of the Morton Theater

Built in 1910 by Monroe Bowers ("Pink") Morton, the Morton Theatre is one of the first, and the oldest surviving vaudeville theatres in the United States, uniquely built, owned, and operated by an African-American. In its heyday, the Morton Theatre hosted early acts such Butterbeans and Susie, Blind Willie McTell, Curley Weaver, Cab Calloway, and Bessie Smith. The theatre also experienced the dawn of the silver screen as a movie house.

The Morton Building housed not only the theatre, but also many of Athens’ black doctors, dentists, pharmacists and other professionals. It truly was the place to be in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Things drastically changed in the 50’s when a fire occurred in the theater section of the building, shutdown the theater but the offices were allowed to remain open. As time marched on, building fell on very hard times. The citizens of Athens, Georgia got behind campaign to fully restored Morton Theatre and refurbish and restore its luster.

The Morton Theatre is now adapted as a performing arts space and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Soul of Athens: A History of the Morton Theatre has won, Platinum Best of Show Aurora Award for excellence of content, execution and creativity and a Bronze Telly Award.