Post by StevePulaski on Apr 23, 2011 13:21:27 GMT -5
Students from Charleston High School in Prom Night in Mississippi.
Rating: ★★★
Students don't have a say and are forced to deal with the unfair advantage in Prom Night in Mississippi, an HBO documentary that examines a racially integrated prom in the town of Charleston in April 2008. Yes, it is the year 2008 and a school still has a form of segregation.
Not only is that astonishing, but the only people that want this segregated prom are The Board of Education. They're not racist, but they feel mixing the students during a school dance would lead to chaos, trouble, and unnecessary fighting on a night they're supposed to forever look on as an amazing time in their life. They have a point. But it isn't strong enough to hold two separate proms.
Wouldn't that risque move give the school so much more than they bargained for? Take this into consideration; Charleston High School holds a segregated prom called the "Black Prom" and the "White Prom." Wouldn't that cost double the money for the school to hold two separate prom nights? Not to mention the number of interracial dating at the school meaning a mixed couple most likely wouldn't attend the prom because their boyfriend/girlfriend won't be there. You'd lose revenue.
Also, wouldn't it cause just an uprising from media outlets (trust me, they'll find out)? Is it really worth spending money for two separate occasions, fighting back the media, and wind up losing student count at a prom all because the damn BoE believes it's a "smart decision?" Shut up.
This is all coming from a guy who has no intentions of going to prom and attends school dances to say he did. If something happens, I want to be there. I've been to almost every dance in middle school and high school and in that time I've only danced with a girl once. I stand on the sidelines and watch everyone else have "the time of their lives." I'm the kind of person who watches things happen. No need to be involved.
The "reason" this film came to justice is because allegedly Morgan Freeman was upset that his hometown had succumbed to having a segregated prom. That idea alone leaves me skeptical. We're talking Morgan Freeman. Net worth of over $90 million Morgan Freeman. I could understand, you know, checking up on your hometown once in a while. But I don't believe he funded the prom and helped the students out of the goodness of his heart. Maybe the goodness of his paycheck.
Still, Morgan Freeman is a great addition to the film. Everything is. We are listening to real life students' opinion on a segregated prom. They believe it's completely unnecessary, Morgan Freeman believes it's completely unnecessary, so why do we have it?
The Board is bent on making decisions that take to their liking, not the students. They don't care about us. They want more of themselves and less of the students. You think these guys really care about the students' opinion? This goes for every high school, middle school, college, district, etc. You are forced to cope with the fact that The Board controls the school and every student in it. What this film represents is a rare case. Normally, students just keep their mouth shut. You think kids start petitions like in movies for something they don't want? You think the board cares what you yourself finds satisfactory or not? Nope. They are like the government, it's a big club...and you ain't in it.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. Prom Night in Mississippi is a great documentary, it tells a brave story, and it proves a scary fact; segregation is still alive in some places.
Starring: The students of Charleston High School, respectively and Morgan Freeman. Directed by: Paul Saltzman.