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The Whole Staircase: Films Celebrating 400 Years of African American History & Culture

MarshallMarshall (2017)

"The story of Thurgood Marshall, the crusading lawyer who would become the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, as he battles through one of his career-defining cases." - distributor's synopsis

Run time: 118 minutes

This film is rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, sexuality, violence and some strong language.

Licensed through Swank.

Screening Date and Location

March 4, 2019 presented by Sunshine Nealy
Palatka Campus - Building A, Valhalla Hall from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Ms. Sunshine Nealy will present this film. Sunshine Nealy is an Adult Education Program Specialist at SJR State and specializes in recruitment and operations. Sunshine received her Bachelor’s degree from Saint Leo University in Business Administration and Management. Previously, she worked in Admissions at the University of Florida. She is heavily involved in the community with her involvement in youth sports, church youth, and children ministries.    

As Ms. Nealy explains, "I selected this film because I admire Thurgood Marshall’s drive to give a black man accused of sexual assault and attempted murder a fair trial especially during a time when racism and discrimination was second nature. Way before Marshall became the 1st African American Supreme Court Justice, he was just a lawyer for the NAACP. It was Marshall’s early years as a lawyer that groomed him to sit on the United States Supreme Court."

July 11, 2019
Location: Palatka Campus Library
Time: 5:30 p.m. 
An informal discussion with members of The Turning Table's Race Issues Study Circle will be held after the film.

All are welcome to this free event! 

Resources for Further Exploration: Marshall

Celebration • Education • Reflection

H.R.1242/Public Law 115-102, the 400 Years of African American History Commission Act, establishes 2019 as a year of "commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Africans in the English colonies, at Point Comfort, Virginia, in 1619."  The commemoration is intended “to recognize and highlight the resilience and contributions of African-Americans since 1619; to acknowledge the impact that slavery and laws that enforced racial discrimination had on the United States; and to educate the public about the arrival of Africans in the United States; and the contributions of African-Americans to the United States.” In recognition of this commemoration and with the Act serving as a guide, the SJR State Library has organized a year-long series of events that will provide educational experiences and resources to students and the community that celebrate the history and culture of African Americans.

Site created and maintained by Dr. Christina Will. Pages will be added and maintained throughout 2019.
Maintenance will cease at the end of 2019 but this site will remain accessible.