Yesterday afternoon, Judy and I joined a decent-sized crowd at Cyrano's Off-Center Playhouse, to hear Jeff Silverman and Diane Benson give an update on progress of their PBS film, For the Rights of All: Ending Jim Crow in Alaska.The film is mostly fleshed out in its pre-production phase, with almost all scenes filmed. A new narrative layover, higher resolution still images, and a few other details have to be inserted or interpolated. I hope they get some better music. And I'm not suggesting they get me to write it.
It is a vibrant story, about how few courageous Alaska Natives forced civil rights legislation in Alaska, more than decade before such legislation was enacted in most of the rest of the USA. It centers on two sets of incidents: the Rosa Parks-esque fight for equality in Nome, by the very young Alberta Schenck; and the battles in the Alaska Legislature, in Juneau, for equal rights legislation, by Elizabeth Peratrovich. Both Schenck and Peratrovich were successful.
The movie draws on some compelling archival footage to illustrate the unequal circumstances visited upon Alaska Natives, and interviews several elders, who experienced the weight of discrimination first-hand.
My only criticism of the project at this point, is that I wish all of the acting in it was up to the level of Diane Benson's. It is adequate, but hers is superb, quite eloquent.
One of the best accounts of Roberta Schenck's courageous stand, is by legendary figure, Muktuk Marston, who was commander during World War II, of Alaska's Territorial Guard.
image - Diane Benson, as Elizabeth Peratrovich
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