January 6, 2003
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A sneak preview of an award-winning documentary on whites’ and African-Americans’ views about the brutal, racially motivated murder of James Byrd Jr. in Jasper, Texas, and a look at racial health disparities by former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher are just some of the highlights Jan. 14-24 during Vanderbilt University’s 2003 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Series – “Colors of Justice.”
These events are free and open to the public.
“Two Towns of Jasper,” a documentary film by friends Whitney Dow and Marco Williams, captures the emotions of the residents of Jasper, Texas, during the trials of the local white men accused of murdering James Byrd, a local African-American man. The filmmakers will be on hand to discuss the documentary following the screening at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, at the Belcourt Theater, 2102 Belcourt Ave., in Hillsboro Village. A reception at Pancake Pantry will follow the film and discussion.
The film was Dow’s and Williams’ attempt to gain an understanding of how and why the brutal murder happened. The filmmakers sought the answers from the town’s residents and decided to use segregated film crews. Dow, who is white, filmed the white community and Williams, who is African-American, filmed the African-American community. The resulting film illustrates the racial divides that exist in America.
Vanderbilt University’s Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Series Committee has partnered with the Independent Television Service’s (ITVS) Community Connections Project and community sponsors to present this sneak preview of the “Two Towns of Jasper” documentary that is scheduled to air on PBS’ award-winning film series, “Point of View” (P.O.V.) on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
The film has garnered numerous film festival awards and was an Official Selection of the 2002 Sundance Film Festival Documentary Competition.
Sponsors of the film’s sneak preview in Nashville include Vanderbilt’s College of Arts and Science, Divinity School and Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities. Other community sponsors include the National Conference of Community and Justice, the Diversity in Dialogue Program of the Scarritt-Bennett Center, Tying Nashville Together, American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, Nashville Peace and Justice Center, Pathfinding Consulting and Nashville Public Television.
Satcher’s talk, “Colors of Justice: Race and Health Care in the U.S.,” is the keynote address for Vanderbilt’s Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Series. The talk will be Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 6 p.m. at Vanderbilt’s Langford Auditorium.
Cornel West, Class of 1943 University Professor of Religion, at Princeton University will also give a talk titled “Race and Democracy” as part of the series on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 6 p.m. in Ingram Hall at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music.
Satcher’s and West’s talks are co-sponsored by the Chancellor’s Lecture Series.
Other events include a joint Vanderbilt and Fisk University event titled “The Spirit of Jazz” during which African-American jazz pianist Warren Byrd and Jewish-American jazz bassist David Chevan will perform music transformed from Jewish and African-American sacred traditions. The concert will be held in Jubilee Hall at Fisk University on Thursday, Jan. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Jazz duo Byrd and Chevan will also perform at a Jazz Sabbath Service on Friday, Jan. 24, at 5 p.m. at Vanderbilt’s Schulman Center for Jewish Life. The service will also feature performances by the Voices of Praise choir and vocalists from Vanderbilt Hillel.
For a complete listing of events scheduled for the 2003 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Series at Vanderbilt, visit www.vanderbilt.edu/mlk/.
Schedule of Events
Colors of Justice – Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Series
Vanderbilt University
January 14-February 13, 2003
All events are open to the public.
For more information and updates, visit www.vanderbilt.edu/mlk/
The Freedom Project
1/141 p.m., Averbuch Auditorium, Owen Graduate School of Management – Free.
Join a team of young leaders as they review Dr. King’s thoughts and teachings honoring freedom – the foundation of America.
Free parking: Terrace Place Garage, spaces 1-92 except those marked reserved. Garage located on Terrace Place off of 21st Avenue South near Goten Restaurant.
Two Towns of Jasper – film
1/157 p.m., Belcourt Theater, Hillsboro Village – Free.
Filmed in Jasper, Texas during the trial of three men accused of the brutal, racially motivated murder of James Byrd, the film uses separate black and white film crews to examine the attitudes of people in a town divided by race. Join filmmakers Whitney Dow and Marco Williams for a discussion about the film. A reception at Pancake Pantry follows the film and discussion. This sneak preview is sponsored by the PBS series Point of View (P.O.V.), which will air the film in January. More info on the film: www.twotownsofjasper.com
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration 2003 – Citywide March and Convocation
1/2011 a.m., Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church – Free.
Join the citywide march beginning at the church, 2708 Jefferson St.
and ending at Tennessee State University’s Gentry Center for the
memorial convocation at noon.
Social Justice in a Diverse Society: Will it be Fair?
1/21Noon, Wyatt Center Rotunda, Peabody College – Free.
Henry Tomes, executive director for public interest, American Psychological Association, will deliver the keynote address at Peabody’s annual Changing Lives Award Ceremony recognizing exceptional community service.
Reception to follow.
Pay parking: $3.25 at Village at Vanderbilt Garage on 21st Avenue South.
Martin Luther King Jr. Candlelight Vigil
1/216 p.m., Benton Chapel, 4444 21st Ave. S. – Free.
Sponsored by the Organization of Black Graduate and Professional Students
Free parking: Wesley Place Garage, spaces 52-170. Garage located at 21st Avenue South and Scarritt Place.
To Kill a Mockingbird – film
1/219 p.m., Sarratt Cinema – $2.50 with VU I.D., $5, general admission.
When small-town lawyer Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) is appointed to defend a black man accused of raping a white woman, most expect only a token defense. The film is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Harper Lee.
A student-led discussion to follow.
Note: also shows 1/22 and 1/23 at 9 p.m.
Free Parking: Lot 16 – except for spaces reserved for the University Club (UC). Take 25th Avenue South to either Garland Avenue or Kirkland Place to enter parking lot.
David Satcher,16th Surgeon General of the United States.
1/22 Keynote speaker, three events.
The Role of Academic Health Centers in Eliminating Racial Health Disparities
Noon, Langford Auditorium – Free.
Pay parking: $2 in the 25th Avenue Garage.
Improving Health Care for Persons with Mental Retardation
3 p.m., room 241 Kennedy Center/MRL Bldg. Reception to follow – Free.
Pay parking: Wesley Place Garage, spaces 52-170. Garage located at 21st Avenue South and Scarritt Place.
Colors of Justice: Race & Health Care in the U.S. – 2003 Keynote address
6 p.m., Langford Auditorium – Free.
Come early for a reception and concert by children from Blair and W.O. Smith Music School in the Langford lobby preceding Satcher’s keynote address.
Free parking: 25th Avenue Garage.
What Happens to a A Dream Deferred: Examining Civil Rights at a Crossroads
1/233:10 p.m., Flynn Auditorium, Law School – Free.
Trina Jones, professor of Law, Duke University, is the author of Shades of Brown: The Law of Skin Color, Duke Law Journal, examining anti-discrimination efforts that have focused primarily on race while courts have largely ignored discrimination within racial classifications on the basis of skin color.
Free parking: Terrace Place Garage, spaces 1-92 except those marked reserved. Garage located on Terrace Place off of 21st Avenue South near Goten Restaurant.
The Spirit of Jazz – concert
1/237:30 p.m., Jubilee Hall, Fisk University – Free.
African-American jazz pianist Warren Byrd and Jewish-American jazz bassist David Chevan collaborate to transform sacred music into jazz. Co-Sponsored by Fisk University and Vanderbilt Hillel.
Jazz Sabbath Service
1/245 p.m., Schulman Center for Jewish Life – Free.
The service will feature performances by jazz duo Warren Byrd & David Chevan, Voices of Praise and vocalists from Vanderbilt Hillel. Pay parking: Lot 16 except those marked reserved for University Club (UC). Take 25th Avenue South to either Garland Avenue or Kirkland Place to enter parking lot.
Get on the Bus – film
1/249 p.m., Sarratt Cinema – $2.50 with VU I.D., $5, general admission.
Spike Lee’s film chronicling 12 men’s travels by bus from Los Angeles to the 1996 Million Man March in Washington D.C. Along the way the group confronts the hostilities and prejudices they have each faced as well as the ones they hold within themselves.
Note: also shows 1/25 at 9 p.m.
Free parking: Lot 16 – except for spaces reserved for the University Club (UC). Take 25th Avenue South to either Garland Avenue or Kirkland Place to enter parking lot.
Race & Democracy
2/136 p.m., Ingram Hall, Blair School of Music – Free.
Cornel West, professor of religion, Princeton University, is a noted orator and social and economic philosopher. West has taken his struggle for racial equity to the national spotlight. His best-selling book, "Race Matters" triggered a national debate on race issues.
Free parking: Capers Garage on Capers Avenue off 24th Avenue South.
Media contact: Princine Lewis, princine.l.lewis@vanderbilt.edu, 615-322-NEWS