Prom Night in Mississippi (2008)

Director:

Paul Saltzman

Writer:

Paul Saltzman (writer)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot:

A high school in a small-town in Mississippi prepares for its first integrated senior prom.

Plot Keywords:

Prom | High School | Small Town | Racial Segregation | State In Title

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Runtime:

USA:90 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Mississippi, USA

Company:

Return to Mississippi Productions

Out with the old ... in with the new

I happened upon the middle of this HBO-produced program by accident. I couldn't believe what I was seeing: talk of racism, "blacks" and "whites" going to separate proms ... and Morgan Freeman - what did he have to do with anything? Well, I decided to wait and watch it from the beginning. Boy - this was a great documentary.

Charleston, Mississippi is small, 2000-person town. Approx. 40% is white and 60% African American. The high school has 415 students total, which means about 100 students graduate every year. Believe it or not, with even this tiny student population, up till 2008, there were separate senior proms for "blacks" and "whites".

What does Morgan Freeman have to do with it? He lives there! One of the amazing scenes in the show is when Freeman visits the senior class and has a frank discussion with them. He asks them pointedly direct and blunt questions. When asked why he's doing this, he responds: "I live here and I think it is the stupidest thing I ever heard of" ... and goes on from there. He is an amazingly articulate and bright individual - I'll bet it was both his societal standing (or celebrity status) and leadership skills that got the integrated prom to go forward.

The kids interviewed in the show are very articulate and forward looking; the real impediment to progress seems to be the parents. Apparently the some parents tried to take legal action to "prevent", if you can believe it, an integrated prom. When they failed, they still pushed forward with a "white"-only prom. It almost leaves one speechless. This show is a great example of why generation gaps are sometimes a good thing. Some generational ideas need to fade away with the generation that embraced them.

This is a great documentary - definitely worthwhile viewing. It'll shock you realize how parts of this country are still mentally 'stuck' in the 50 and 60s. Unreal.