New Fannie Lou Hamer Film Shown As Part of Civil Rights Series at USJ

MAY 15, 2021 – WEST HARTFORD, CT - A virtual screening of the new documentary, Fannie Lou Hamer’s America, was held on Thursday, April 8, as part of a Civil Rights Series hosted by the University of St. Joseph (USJ). Funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) the series also included the films: Antonia Pantoja: ¡Presente! and The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till.

Dr. Pablo Correa (Top row left) and Joy Davenport (Second row center) participate in a panel discussion following a screening of the new documentary, Fannie Lou Hamer’s America.

Hundreds registered for the event and the Civil Rights Series was curated by USJ faculty members Dr. Anthony De Jesus, Steven Raider-Ginsburg and Dr. Pablo Correa. Correa, the program director of Digital Media and Communication at USJ, is a professional filmmaker and worked as a videographer on Fannie Lou Hamer’s America.

“It was great to be able to share the film with my school community,” said Correa. “Fannie Lou Hamer is such an important icon, and her words are still relevant today.”

The virtual screening,adapted due to COVID-19 restrictions, was followed by a panel discussion with the film’s director and editor, Joy Davenport, Dr. Correa, Janice Flemming-Butler Founder of Voices of Women of Color, Hamden (CT) City Councilperson Justin Farmer, and 22nd District (CT) Senator Marilyn Moore. The panel was moderated by USJ Assistant Professor of Social Work Dr. Christiana Best.

“The students really enjoyed the film noting especially how it related to current issues as well as historical information,” Correa said. “The post-film discussion with the panel really helped to show how Fannie Lou Hamer’s words are relevant to issues still currently faced by black people today, especially locally in Connecticut. Having the experience and the knowledge of two black politicians, Councilperson Farmer and Senator Moore, on the panel was a great addition to the conversation.” 

Fannie Lou Hamer’s America is slated for broadcast in March 2022, and is the first documentary that allows Hamer, an important and often overlooked figure of the civil rights movement, to tell her own story in her own words by means of archival audio and video footage.

The film is part of a community-driven project to preserve Hamer’s legacy as a humanitarian and voting rights activist, and includes a K-12 educational curriculum, an online resource for students and activists, and a young filmmaker’s workshop for high school students. Correa is the director and an instructor for the workshop as well as a curriculum designer, and the project’s webmaster. 

Previous screenings of the film have been held with the goal of empowering a new generation of young people to engage in reflective conversations about modern day injustices and racial healing inspired by Hamer’s empowering voice. USJ organizers said their Civil Rights Series has a similar mission.

“Our virtual events have successfully been able to provide our students and community audiences with continued thought-provoking and artistically exciting work this year,” said Steven Raider-Ginsburg, director of the USJ Autorino Center. “With continued attention towards ending racism in all forms and renewed attention at voting rights, this is the perfect time for a Civil Rights Film Series and discussion.”