Audio By Carbonatix
Though many of us are too young to remember it, the shockwaves from the 1960s integration of DISD are still being felt in our community, and while race relations in our city are certainly more cordial these days, they’re certainly no less complicated. To see just how far we’ve come as a city, it’s wise to take a close look at our past. This Wednesday at 7 p.m. you can start with a screening of the 1961 film Dallas at the Crossroads, which was shown locally hundreds of times in the early ’60s to prepare Dallasites for the integration of their schools. Narrated by Walter Cronkite, the film also features then Dallas Mayor Earle Cabell and other notable citizens pleading for peaceful desegregation, the hope being that Dallas could avoid the senseless violence that plagued desegregation efforts in other Southern cities. Dr. Glenn Linden, associate professor of history at SMU and author of Desegregating Schools in Dallas: Four Decades in the Federal Courts, will offer commentary on the subject after the screening. The program is part of Call to Action, an exhibit chronicling the social impact of John F. Kennedy’s presidency. The exhibit runs through fall at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, 411 Elm Street, Suite 120. To RSVP for the screening, call 214-747-6600 or e-mail programs@jfk.org.
Wed., May 24, 7 p.m.
When news happens, Dallas Observer is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.
We’re aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to you. If the Dallas Observer matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
