An hourlong documentary chronicling the civil rights movement in Alaska, produced by a Penn State alumnus who has lived in Alaska for more than a quarter of a century, debuted Sept. 22, for members of Congress at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.
The film, "For the Rights of All: Ending Jim Crow in Alaska," utilizes a blend of documentary and drama, with re-enactments, interviews and rare historic footage and photographs to tell the story of of Alaska’s civil rights movement in a series of victories for citizenship, school desegregation and voting rights. By using non-violent social change, Alaska Natives overcame prejudice, disadvantage and blatant bigotry to win justice for all residents.
Alumnus Jeffry Silverman, who earned his film degree from the Penn State in 1983, produced and wrote the film. Silverman lives in Anchorage, Alaska, and operates his own film company, Blueberry Productions.
The film has been offered to PBS stations for distribution nationwide in November, which is Native American Heritage Month.
Members of Alaska’s congressional delegation -- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Sen. Mark Begich and Rep. Don Young -- are sponsoring the screening in the nation’s capital.