As the discussion on Orange County’s most famous desegregation case broadens up to consider the “et als” of Mendez v. Westminster, a new documentary on its history is set to premiere tomorrow. Fullerton college faculty librarian Erica Bennett’s “Tales of a Golden State: The Mendez v. Westminster Story” is a forty-minute film exploring the stories of the Mexican families who struggled to integrate Orange County’s ‘White Schools.’ There will also be the first public performance of the accompanying play “El Primer Dia de Clases” taking place tomorrow! In the documentary, scenes from the first public performance of the accompanying play “El Primer Dia de Clases” are interwoven with interviews with living members of the plaintiff families in an all-encompassing and important historical narrative!
Upcoming screenings:
1. Premiere for community, Friday, November 13, 2009 12 noon at the Fullerton College Wilshire Auditorium. 315 East Wilshire Avenue, Fullerton, California 92832. Admission is free. Parking is provided on the second floor of the college parking garage at Lemon and Fullerton College Drive, no permit is necessary. Map.
2. High School screening and talk back with Erica Bennett, Gabe Flores, Yadira de la Cruz, and Timoteo Marselino Gonzalez, Friday, November 20, 2009 9-11am at Savanna High School with Counselor Joe Casas. 301 North Gilbert Street, Anaheim, CA 92801.
November 13th, 2009 at 12:59 am
Hi Subversive Historian!
Thank you so much for posting info about tomorrow’s screening of “Tales of a Golden State: The Mendez v. Westminster Story”. This Fullerton College Production weaves together family members memories of the case with the first public performance of my play “El Primer Dia de Clases”. To clarify, we are not performing the play tomorrow. What I did in the documentary was intercut oral histories of the MvW families with footage of the play shot on March 21, 2009.
We are pleased to announce Photographer Yolanda Morelos Alvarez’ exhibit “Fire in the Morning” will be on display in the lobby of the Wilshire Auditorium before and after the screening. The doors of the lobby are scheduled to open at 11:30am.
Please check out our new Mendez Project wiki at http://fcmendezproject.pbworks.com (it is updated daily
Best!
Erica Bennett
November 13th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Hi Erica!
Thanks for the correction! And if my memory serves me correct Mr. Casas came out of the Puente project correct? (that’s my old high school!)
Since I couldn’t make it to the screening, is there any way I could view this documentary for review?
All the best and congratulations!
~Gabriel
November 13th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Hi Gabriel!
Great question about Joe– I’ll ask him
We can absolutely screen the movie for you– let me know what time and place is good for you– or are you ever in or around Fullerton?
fcmendezproject@gmail.com
Thanks!
Erica