Bending the Arc | The Vote is a film about the hard-fought battle to expand voting rights to all people in Alabama in the 1960s. The film will premiere on Tuesday, October 20, at 6:30 PM CST via YouTube. Register for the free virtual event on Facebook or .
Bending the Arc documentarian Pam Powell on the path to awareness through storytelling
Pam Powell and her team premiered Origins, the first film of the Bending the Arc documentary series. This film will discuss the origins of racism in Alabama as part of the larger series that aims to dissect the total history of racism in the state through the lens of black storytellers and white allies.
Docu-series tells stories from Alabama’s past to forge a better future
Retired and current UAB employees are collaborating on a new documentary series, “Bending the Arc,” that explores the long struggle against racism in Alabama. The first installment was released in October and can been seen in its entirety on YouTube.
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It is a tour de force and makes the voting struggle come back to life. Thank you, thank you. There were many details I was not aware of and it certainly brought home that racism hurts all of us, not just the target group.
PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS
Such important work and so timely and needed.
BOULDER, COLORADO
Congratulations and thank you for this powerful work…I am writing because I wish to arrange for my students to see this film. I want them to see how the practice of photography is interwoven with the efforts for peace and justice. I am giving them a view of significant films that teach them their own history of Southernness.
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
Very worth watching. I knew most of the events from my teaching, but the documentary filled in rich details. The fact that only 300 were finally allowed to march, the work of the Unitarian Church, the interviews with Viola Liuzzo’s children. Thanks much!
ZIMMERMAN, MINNESOTA
What a strong, moving documentary. Brought me to tears more than once - what strength and bravery shown by people as young as 11 and 15. Thanks for reminding me what a comfortable life I have lived, and what risks and sacrifices people with real guts have made. I’m very worried that we are losing ground on the progress which you record.
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY
This was so incredibly powerful! I thought I knew the story of Selma, but there was a lot I didn’t know. Thanks to all the foot soldiers who told their stories, and to Pam Powell and David Brower. Thank you for making this film. I look forward to the rest in the series!
BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY
I watched this wonderful documentary in October and was so pleased to be reminded of all the good people in this world.
HARTLAND, WISCONSIN
Even as a history/government teacher, who has read a great deal about that time period, and especially about civil rights, I learned from and was moved by the program.
ELK RIVER, MINNESOTA
I’m writing to say how much I enjoyed the premiere of the film on voting. It was a delight to see some people I know, and the story is well inspirational. It was great to hear voices of the people most affected and to learn about the activism among Unitarians.
WASHINGTON DC
Excellent job. Ken Burns could not have done a better job. The content was powerful because the people were powerful. The film could have been further subtitled "Profiles of Courage."
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
I grew up in a congregation whose minister had attended this and so I knew the story on a general level, but it is so very meaningful and moving to hear people’s own voices telling about it. Thank you to everyone who was part of this project!
PENNSYLVANIA
Powell did a wonderful job of outlining the interactions between the big shots and the grassroots marchers and organizers in a way that made it difficult to separate leaders and followers...The film transformed people who had heretofore been portrayed reverentially as distant martyrs into real people with lives and families, but also with convictions, who I believe would have much preferred to work silently, anonymously for social justice, and to see their children grow up.
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
I just watched "Bending the Arc: The Vote" beginning to end. I’m blown away. What a powerful, powerful documentary. As much as I’ve admired works like Eyes on the Prize, this does personal things the others don’t do. Just very moving. And such great interviewees. All the subtle touches like the transitions and the soundtrack are so perfect too. And closing it with Viola Liuzzo. I didn’t know she was a Unitarian. But then of course she was.
DANVILLE, KENTUCKY
Wow! We just watched "Bending the Arc: The Vote" and were blown away by it. Congratulations on this beautiful labor of love! This should have a national airing on PBS. It’s so very moving and brings back so many memories both painful and joyous. Thank you for bringing history to such vivid life.
BOSTON, MASSACHSETTS
Wow, (we) just watched "Bending the Arc: The Vote." Wow and excellent and amazing. Thank you for bringing passion, vision, and clarity to this project!!! I am excited to read of more films in the works.
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI
We watched "Bending the Arc: The Vote" last night. Superbly done! I learned things I did not know, even though I have read about it and listened to people who were there. I'm so glad you are doing this. I grew up in Tallapoosa County, away from the centers of protest. What we knew was mainly what aired on the news. I remember hearing the adults talk with concern about "outside agitators," and people "causing trouble" and saying they were trying to move things too fast, etc. (not to mention the fierce resistance to school integration!). This film record of people who were on the front lines of the effort is very important. It was moving to watch.
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
"Bending the Arc: The Vote" is brilliant. I’m completely blown away with it. I wanted to tell you how deeply moving I found the film.
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
That was masterfully done. I can’t even imagine the long hours, hard work and emotional heartache it took to create this touching and important documentary to get everything just right. At this moment, I’m so overwhelmed and awed that words fail me.
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
"Bending the Arc" is a beautiful, inspiring film! And so timely!! Thank you so much for all you put into making it - so much love and so much integrity.
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA
Such a beautiful film. So inspiring.
NORTH ADAMS, MASSACHUSETTS
I just wanted to say what an extremely good documentary that was. Even though I have read a lot of history about the Civil Rights Movement, seen a lot of documentaries and grew up in Birmingham, there was so much detail from ordinary people that I hadn’t heard before that I learned a lot. It was also inspiring. And the follow-up discussion was also interesting as well. I’m looking forward to the other films in the series.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
I think you did an excellent job with the film and I’m grateful and honored to be a part of it. Please thank your whole team - everything went so smoothly. The timing is perfect. I’m looking forward to the rest of it. Thank you for telling my Mother’s story - it means a great deal to me.
GRANTS PASS, OREGON
I have heard of Reverend Reeb and Viola Liuzzo. I knew they both died in the 1960s due to standing up for justice. Yet, after watching this film, I feel like I understand so much more about them, Jimmie Lee Jackson, and so much more. BRAVO to you and all that worked with you!!!
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
My husband and I just finished watching the movie. I literally am shaking. I had not anticipated how emotional this would get from me. And the deja vu, the fear. Wow. And, I learned things that I don’t know if I ever knew. Maybe I just don’t remember. So beautifully and powerfully done. Thank you and your team for doing these documentaries. I wish everyone in the country had to see them.
PITTSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA
This is excellent work. Wow.
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE
Amazingly beautiful, hard, strong, inspiring film! I was really moved emotionally and learned so much I did not know…the depth of Unitarian Church involvement, wow! So the puzzle was put together for me and now I know why everybody talks about how cool Birmingham’s Unitarian Church is.
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
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