Clinton School student Spirit Trickey (’10) continues to impact the community. Last weekend, Trickey hosted the 4thAnnual “Reel” Civil Rights Film Festival, a partnership between the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site and Market Street Cinema.
The two-day festival featured a wide range of films and filmmakers, from auteur Spike Lee to Dallas-area disc jockey Chris Clay. Trickey and National Park Service staff facilitated guided discussions following the films provoking discussion on a diverse range of topics including immigration, homophobia, unjust working conditions and racism.
Trickey tapped one of her classmates for support and insight during the event. Clinton School student Regina Wilkerson (’10) spoke on a panel following the film “The Souls of Black Girls” – a provocative news documentary that takes a critical look at media images of African American women. Wilkerson shared candid personal insight about how to empower young black women and resist the pervasive negative images in hip hop music videos, movies and in society in general.
“It is important for young people to have positive alternatives to what society presents to them,” Wilkerson said.
Wilkerson also spoke about the reverence given to women in Zanzibar, the site of her Clinton School International Service Project last summer. The respect and honor of women contrasts with the portrayal of women in western culture, Wilkerson said. She encouraged young black women to unearth their roots and internalize some of those powerful values.
“Regina’s insight was invaluable and I am grateful that she shared her wisdom with the audience,” Trickey said.
Trickey, the daughter of Little Rock Nine member Minnijean Brown-Trickey, was recently tagged as a “History Maker in the Making” by TheGrio.com, a website affiliated with msnbc.com that is dedicated to African American news and popular culture.
This post was authored by Clinton School student Todd Moore (’10).