Students Explore Social Justice with Film Maker
Dec. 9, 2016 -- On the day before Thanksgiving break, Heights High Social Psychology teacher Mark Sack hosted a Skype conversation with film maker Paul Saltzman.
The conversation was part of the course’s Stereotypes, Prejudice and Discrimination unit.
Prior to the Skype conversation, the students watched and discussed two of Mr. Saltzman’s documentary movies, The Last White Knight: Is Reconciliation Possible? and Prom Night in Mississippi that explore race relations, reconciliation and each individual’s ability to improve the human condition.
“Both of these powerful movies always promote serious conversations and reflections in my classroom,” said Mr. Sack.
This year, the class discussion prompted Mr. Sack to contact the film maker to relay a request from his students to make a Prom Night in Mississippi Ten Years Later follow up film.
They were curious if, after 10 years, the high school in the documentary was still holding two proms, one for white students and an integrated prom. They also wanted to know if the students featured in the film had returned to their hometown to ‘make a difference’.
While Mr. Saltzman could not make a follow up film, he was happy to talk to the students via Skype and answer questions.
“The students’ conversation with the film maker was very engaging,” Said Mr. Sack The students asked him about his motivations to make the films, experience and feelings as a 1960s civil rights worker in Mississippi, feelings about confronting the man who had “sucker-punched” him more than 50 years ago and had gone unpunished, observations of the US after the 2016 election and about the ways students today can make a difference in the world.
Mr. Saltzman’s main message to the students was that “All humans have the capacity to choose love over hate, kindness over harshness and respect over disrespect. We’re here on this earth to make the world a better place.”
“The conversation with Mr. Saltzman was a fitting activity before sending students off to a Thanksgiving holiday weekend to spend meaningful time with family and friends,” said Mr. Sack.