Beckman Brings Movies with Messages: On Febuary 7th, the first movie in a series of three to honor Black History Month premiered.

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 05:49:00 GMT

By Aryn Sanderson

Nikki Sanderson and Devin Jones, the co-coordinators of Black History Movie Night, introduce the featured film (Photograph: Aryn Sanderson).

IRVINE- In honor of Black History Month, Talking in Class, a club on campus, held Black History Movie Night Wednesday, February 07, 2007. Tuskegee Airmen starring Lawrence Fishburne was shown free of charge in Beckman’s Performing Arts Center. The movie tells the story of the first all-African American unit in the US military, the 332nd Fighter Group. The movie night was the first in a series of three, celebrating Black History Month. Talking in Class is holding the Black History Movie Nights to promote tolerance and help teach Patriots about African-American culture. Martin Luther King, Jr. explained in Stride Toward Freedom: the Montgomery Story that, “Men often hate each other because they fear each other; they fear each other because they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they can not communicate; they can not communicate because they are separated.” Talking in Class’s mission is to unite Beckman by fostering communication. The goal of Talking in Class is to promote knowledge and acceptance of all colors and cultures. Nikki Sanderson, a member of the club, was a coordinator of the Tuskegee Airmen movie night. Sanderson continues, “The concept behind this movie night was to celebrate the achievements of the African-American community in an entertaining and educational way. Movie nights are a fun way to honor the culture.” Devin Jones, another coordinator of the event, explained how the movie made her, as an African- American teenager, feel more “grateful for what colored people have now in society” as compared to the discrimination during World War II. Tasia Dukes, a Sophomore who attended, also shared this opinion. She felt inspired “ to appreciate what [African-Americans] have today.” Dukes came to Movie Night with Senior Mike Jones. Jones originally went to the event to support Black History month, but left with a greater appreciation for his heritage, “It was nice to see the African- Americans fighting for what they believed in.” Celeste Indvik, a Sophomore Patriot, thought the movie was “amazing,” exclaiming how she is “definitely” planning on attending the next movie night. Remember the Titans will be the next movie shown to celebrate Black History Month and will take place on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 in Beckman’s Performing Arts Center from 7-9 pm.

The Beckman Chronicle

Beckman Brings Movies with Messages: On Febuary 7th, the first movie in a series of three to honor Black History Month premiered.