Mark Samels, veteran award-winning producer of PBS’ American Experience documentary series, visited Indianapolis recently for a forum discussing the series’ latest installment entitled “Freedom Summer.”
The forum, hosted by Indiana Humanities and moderated by Amos Brown, gave the audience a preview of the groundbreaking piece that chronicles the deadly summer of 1964 in Mississippi.
That summer more than 700 student volunteers, many of them white, joined with organizers and local African-Americans as they canvassed for voter registration, and established the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. Their valiant efforts were met with harsh opposition as activists lived in constant fear due to several incidents of violent retaliation, including the notorious murders of three civil rights workers, countless beatings, the burning of 35 churches and the bombing of 70 homes and community centers.
In a question and answer session with audience members, Samels spoke on the actual filmmaking process, remarking that “Freedom” seeks to go beyond the “simple story” by presenting the narrative in a “360 degree” perspective that explores not only the horror volunteers faced, but also the fear that motivated white Mississippians afraid of losing their political and economic power by giving Blacks the right to vote.
Race is “one of the oldest stories in America,” said Samels. “I think the story of ‘Freedom Summer’ is incredibly relevant today. It’s a story about people making a real commitment to what they believe in, putting their lives on the line.”
“American Experience Presents: Freedom Summer” will premiere June 24 from 8 to 10 p.m. on PBS.
For more information visit indianapolisrecorder.com.
