We Shall Not Be Moved

New Exhibit Commemorating 51st Anniversary of Civil Rights Movement in Tennessee

We are pleased to host We Shall Not be Moved: 51st Anniversary of Tennessee’s Civil Rights Sit-Ins. The exhibit looks at the role that Tennessee students played in shaping the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. The exhibit puts these important “foot soldiers” in their rightful place in history through powerful photographs, artifacts, and an exciting eight-minute film from the sit-ins. This traveling exhibit is from the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville and will run from June 9- July 20.

During the 1950s and 1960s, African Americans began mobilizing in a massive movement against segregation. This included non-violent, direct action campaigns, which culminated in sit-in demonstrations, economic boycotts, and marches.

Fifty-one years ago, a handful of Nashville college students from Fisk University, Tennessee A&I (Later Tennessee State), and American Baptist Theological Seminary along with religious leaders Kelly Miller Smith and James Lawson, began a sit-in campaign targeting downtown lunch counters. These actions sparked the formation of a mass sit-in movement, which became the model used across Tennessee and the rest of the South.

It was these sit-ins and other non-violent actions that served as an example and catalyst for the rest of the Movement and helped usher in a season of social change that led to the desegregation of the South.

In addition to the exhibit, the Museum will be co-hosting a series of education programs to enhance learning throughout the exhibit. These education programs are co-sponsored with the NAACP of Bradley County and the 100 Black Men of Bradley County, Inc.

The program schedule:

 Freedom Riders Documentary
June 14, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
Come watch this two-hour documentary by PBS about the six months in 1961 that changed America forever when more than 400 black and white Americans risked their lives by traveling together on buses and trains as they journeyed through the Deep South. Following the documentary there will be a Q&A session led by Dr. Bryan Reed of Cleveland State Community College. This event is free of charge. The museum will be open at 6:00 p.m. for those wishing to view the exhibit at regular admission costs.

We Shall Not be Moved: Cleveland Experiences Integration
June 21, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.
This will be a moving night of oral history by those who integrated Cleveland’s restaurants and public places in the early 1960s. All are invited to share their stories during this free evening of sharing and remembering. The museum will be open at 6:00 p.m. for those wishing to view the exhibit at regular admission costs.

To learn more about these programs or the exhibit please call the Museum at 339-5745 and ask for Tracy.

Wild River: Hollywood Comes to Bradley County

 The Museum Center is pleased to host a viewing of the movie, Wild River (1960) and documentary on its filming

May 31 and June 2

The museum will be offering a viewing of the popular movie Wild River on Tuesday, May 31. Then Thursday, June 2, we will debut the newly released Wild River Documentary sponsored by the Cleveland-Bradley County Chamber of Commerce. This documentary, produced by a team from Life Care Centers of America, looks at the making of Wild River and its impact on Cleveland and Bradley County. Both events are free to the public and will be held at 7:00 p.m.  We will be open at 6:15 for seating on a first-come, first- served basis and we will sell popcorn and soft drinks!

The year 1959 ushered in a time of great excitement for local residents as movie director, Elia Kazan, brought a  piece of Hollywood to Cleveland, Charleston, and Bradley County.   A man of innovation, Kazan made a daring move when he sought out ways to bring local realism to the makings of the major motion picture, Wild River.  Our local areas became Hollywood East” as the director began setup, cast scores of untried locals in speaking parts, and used countless others as extras in his quest to capture the authenticity of the rural South prior to WWII.

David Swafford, guest curator for last year’s Wild River exhibit, estimates that nearly 200 locals contributed to the film– possibly more locals in its cast than any other film to date!

As a result of the number of locals involved, the movie ingrained itself into the hearts of the people of Bradley County.

Whether they had a part in the movie, or owned the bakery that delivered bread each day for the cast’s lunch or provided the cars and other props for “authenticity,” each and every person involved in the movie feels it is “their movie.”

Wild River was released to the public in 1960 and starred Montgomery Clift, Lee Remick, and Jo Van Fleet.

For more information about the events contact Tracy at the museum at (423) 339-5745.