Social Justice Student Action Team Presents Movie 42

           Students on the Social Justice Student Action Team will be presenting the film 42, the Jackie Robinson story. The event will be after school today, Sept. 30 from 2:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the library.

            The film 42 tells the story of Jackie Robinson, the first African American major league baseball player, and his first season playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers under the team executive Branch Rickey.

The film praises Robinson’s persistence as he is discouraged, discriminated against, and harassed.

            Junior Eryn Carter, a student on the Social Justice Student Action Team, hopes that showing 42 and the groups other upcoming events will encourage students to speak out against discrimination and promote tolerance and acceptance within their community.

            “The purpose of the movie night is to make sure the people at Parkway North never [discriminate], and it’s also to go beyond Parkway North and do good in our community,” said Carter.

            The film will be followed by a short discussion about racism and how it persists post-civil rights era in North and as a global issue.

             “This is a global society, and we need to teach kids to not only maneuver within this society of Parkway North but within the society of St. Louis, the state of Missouri, the United States, and the world,” said sponsor Michael Hazelton. “I think that it’s the more global issue that I’m concerned with them learning about, and how to maneuver through that system, because the system of oppression does exist.”

            Carter said that what she is looking forward to is “seeing people’s reactions, I think some people may be surprised…This is a movie that could really change people’s views of how they act and how people around them act.”

“I’m looking forward to students’ insight. It’s always interesting to see what students think of these issues,” said Hazelton.

            The group has had two movies nights in the past, but it is the first of many events they have planned for this year. On Oct. 10 during academic lab, the team will sponsor a speaker, Allison Levin, who will discuss the issues of hiring discrimination based on sexual orientation. On Oct. 18 during academic lab Mark Norwine will discuss the issues of suicide and bullying prevention.

 By: Ryan Lutker  Staff Writer