WXXI's African American Educational Awareness Film Series

 

Award-winning actress Cicely Tyson narrrate the film. She is seated at the parlor of the historic Susan B. Anthony House. 

 

Photo credit: None

Presents Flight to Freedom, a film that traces the evolution of the Slave System and the Freedom Trials of the North.

WXXI presents two poignant films as part of its annual African American Educational Awareness Film Series on Saturdays, February 19 and 26 at 1 p.m. at WXXI’s Studios, 280 State Street in Rochester. The screenings of Flight to Freedom (on 2/19) and Scarred Justice: The Orangeburg Massacre (on 2/26), followed by a discussion moderated by a special guest, are free and open to the public, but reservations are required. To make a reservation, call Shelley Figueroa at (585) 258-0278 or email her at sfigueroa@wxxi.org.

Flight to Freedom screens on Saturday, February 19 at 1 p.m. Produced by WXXI and narrated by Cicely Tyson, the film traces the evolution of the Slave System and the Freedom Trails of the North." In addition to examining archival photographs, records, artifacts, and interviews with national experts and descendants of slaves, conductors, and abolitionists, this program includes examples of spirituals sung by slaves as part of the "code" system, and visits homes which were used as shelters. The program highlights Rochester, New York, which was at the heart of the railroad, where passengers were hidden by Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Tubman and others.

WXXI’s Community Partners for this film series include: Pothos Productions, Operation Higher Learning, Freedom Trail Commission, USA Youth Soccer Academy, WHTK-1280 “What’s Going on with Brown and Allen,” The Community Place of Greater Rochester, and Minority Telecommunications, LLC.