UPDATE: Due to a scheduling conflict, the screening and panel have been rescheduled for after school on Wednesday, Feb. 24.
Manual’s chapter of social studies honor society Rho Kappa will host a panel discussion about race relations followed by a free screening of the movie “Selma” on Monday, Feb. 1 in the auditorium.
The club is organizing the event alongside Ms. Nicole Finley (English), who is typically responsible for planning the school’s annual Black History Month program.
“Rho Kappa has traditionally done a movie night every year, and this year we wanted to do one in February and tie in Black History Month,” club Co-President Emma Badia (12, HSU) said. “We approached Ms. Finley about collaborating, and she said she had actually already been planning her own movie night, but that we could work with her.”
Finley said that she hopes as many students as possible attend the discussion and movie screening, including those who may not have previously expressed much interest in black history.
“I think it’s important for students to know that change begins with them,” she said. “I think that celebrating black history doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be a person of color or a minority of any kind, but just that you want to celebrate the diversity of our nation.”
Finley said that though she is still finalizing the list of community members who will serve on the panel discussion, it will likely comprise several employees of the Mayor’s office, as well as student members of both Rho Kappa and Manual’s Black Student Union (BSU).
The BSU also helped select topics for the panel, which BSU President Jahné Brown (12, J&C) said would likely include the school to prison pipeline, the Black Lives Matter movement and aspects of the black vote.
The “Selma” screening marks Rho Kappa’s third annual movie night. The organization screened “The Help” last year and “Lincoln” the year before that, but has never previously accompanied the films with any kind of discussion session.
The event will begin immediately after school on Monday, Feb. 1 in the auditorium. Snacks and refreshments will be served.
