By Sarah Verpooten, MJE
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we would like to recommend the documentary “Hope and Fury” for our diversity, equity and inclusion resource of the month.
It can be graphic at times, and definitely provokes emotional response. All footage was shown on network television over the last 50 years.
Hope and Fury (2018, NBC), 1 hour 26 minutes
The 2018 film hosted by Lester Holt shows and interconnects the rise of the Civil Rights movement and television news.
Historic footage from Selma, the Freedom Riders, the murder of Emmett Till, King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and other Civil Rights benchmark events are shown with commentary from the movement’s leaders and the reporters on the scene.
The film is a great way to show how television news came into its own as a legitimate form of news and compares the shift to today’s protestor’s ability to livestream events as they happen.
The video is a great chance to discuss the role of the news in society, how violence plays into breaking news and the ethics of covering Civil Rights issues today as well.
Viewing guide
The guide was developed by JEA to foster thought and apply historic news to students’ current lives. Please use as needed, in whole or in part, as the video is lengthy.
The viewing guide includes 58 questions that can be used for individual assignments or group discussions.
Lindsay Porter