Moton Museum Site of Recent PBS Filming

The Robert Russa Moton Museum was the recent site of a documentary filming by
WCVE-Richmond and the University of Virginia Center for Politics. Both WCVE and the UVA Center for Politics are collaborating on the upcoming documentary "Beyond Massive Resistance" (working title) which is scheduled to air in Virginia in the Fall of 2009 and, nationally, in February 2010.

In 2008, Barrack Obama was elected the first African American president of the United States.  It is hard to imagine, however, that only 50 years ago, many southern states chose to refuse integration. Virginia’s government led a movement that would affect the lives of children across the state and the South through Massive Resistance.

“Beyond Massive Resistance” will shine a light on the time between these historic events and tell the stories of those lives who were altered by Virginia’s refusal to integrate.  Despite this dark moment in the state’s history, Virginia became the first state to elect an African American governor, L. Douglas Wilder, in 1989 and voted for Obama in the 2008 presidential election.

Why did Virginia fight so hard against integration and what were the lasting effects, including the children who lost part of their education? What happened that made Virginia overcome these times and what is there left to do?  “Beyond Massive Resistance” will ask these questions and share the stories of the people who lived through it.