” … I was one of the lucky viewers who was able to see Children of the Civil Rights for the first time at my workplace, OSU-OKC. Clifford was present, along with her father, and a woman who was featured in the film, Joyce Henderson. (Seriously, click on that link, this woman has an amazing story.) Henderson, who served as a high school principle around the Oklahoma City area for years and was present for Martin Luther King’s 1963 “I have a Dream Speech” and both of President Obama’s inaugurations, spoke to our students, emphasizing how important it is to know our personal and collective histories, as she states, “You can’t understand where you are or where you’re going until you understand where you’ve been,” (NewsOK.com).
I really can’t express through my writing the significance of Henderson’s words and the story that Clifford presents to us in her documentary. ‘Children of the Civil Rights’ does not speak to merely one race, gender, or age group, for the battle for all human rights still lives on today; and we mustn’t take for granted the power of story, how this unique art form can be used as a tool to help us understand ourselves, our histories, and move forward in overcoming our adversities.
I challenge all of us – no matter what race, age, gender, or occupation – to reflect on our personal stories this month, to shape them and share them with others. You never know what an untold story might do for the unwritten future.”