Courtesy of OPUBCO, Inside Bishops, photo by George Tapscott, Oklahoma City, Friday, May 31, 1963
The note states: “The group has voted to stay here and sing and pray until they are allowed to eat.
The manager will not allow the children to use the bathroom.”
WHY I AM MAKING "THE FACES OF CHANGE" DOCUMENTARY FILM
A note from the Director of the film
Julia Clifford
I came to realize that we gain or lose our freedoms incrementally. After the bombing of the twin towers, we went to war with Iraq and I witnessed the implementation of “The Patriot Act”, which restricted our freedoms for safety sake. I felt then that no matter what I did that I could not make a difference. It all seemed too complicated. The government seemed too big and and no longer listened to the people. It seemed to be listening to corporations instead; Halliburton, Blackwater USA being a few of many. What drew me to this story was the glimmer of hope that I felt when I heard about the children of the Civil Rights Movement fighting for their freedoms.
I first heard the story five years ago while visiting my parents. I asked my father what his most memorable moments were throughout his life. He started talking about getting involved in sit-ins in Oklahoma City in 1960. I grew up in Oklahoma, yet I had never heard about sit-ins taking place there. I started to research and the more I found out, the larger that glimmer of hope grew.
It was children who started the sit-ins, first in Wichita, Kansas, July 19, 1958, (lasted three weeks) then on August 19th, one month later, in Oklahoma City, (lasted six years). For six years, first just children, then young adults and religious leaders, then later concerned citizens would go downtown, sit in restaurants that would not serve blacks and asked to be served. It was simple. It was brilliant. It took time. And it worked. It worked so well that most people throughout the country know nothing about it.
What I want to accomplish in making this film is to show national and international audiences just how we do make a difference. Even if our actions are not bold or dramatic, but are steady, incremental, nudges to the government and policy makers in the direction that brings back our freedoms --it is we, the people, we are the faces of change.
The film takes a global view needed to put things into perspective. It goes back in time just far enough to show audiences how people gain or lose freedoms. A few highlights include: the Indian Removal Act (1830), which removed the five civilized tribes and their slaves from the Southeastern part of the country to “Indian Territory”; the implementation of Jim Crow; the Tulsa Race Riots (1921); Hitler’s version of “The Patriot Act” called “The Reichstag Fire Decree” (1933). The film also shows positive influences such as Gandhi in South Africa and Father Cardijn in Belgium. Gandhi influenced Martin Luther King Jr. who influenced the youth leader Clara Luper and the children in Oklahoma City. Father Cardijn worked to get children out of coal mines and factories in Belgium at the turn of the century. He said, “The young are key to resolving social issues”. He taught youth groups a method of social action called “See-Judge-Act,” a method he developed to help the children help themselves. And it worked. Cardijn’s method spread around the globe. By 1960, a group of young adults in Oklahoma City were introduced to this method. In response, they joined the sit-ins as the first white participants. My father was the president of that group.
Courtesy of OPUBCO, photo by Johnny Melton, Oklahoma City, Saturday June 1, 1963
I love my father as much as any daughter could and I am proud of his participation in the Oklahoma City sit-ins. The hook for me though was the children; it was the children who were the heroes. Add that the story reveals a piece of history that was missed in our school history books, a story missed precisely because of its success --it never got violent therefore it never really made national news. Add too that the story strikes a cord as a way to respond to the hopelessness I felt when we first went to war with Iraq and they (our very own President and our very own Congress in our very own county) passed “The Patriot Act,” an act that is built to diminish our freedoms.
Our children are growing up in a world where they are witnessing the loss of our freedoms. They need to see exemplary examples of people, their peers, working together to grow, gain and preserve our freedoms. It is our children who soon will be the leaders of the 21st Century. This is the reason why I am making the documentary film “The Faces of Change”, to inspire children and adults alike to see the impact of their effort for change.
August 15th is the first day of our final 50 days of fundraising. If you live in the area, we hope you can join us for a delightful evening at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation September 21st. Call 360-305-7837 to reserve your tickets. Space is limited. For those of you who contributed to this film already, thank you so much! The film is 80% complete thanks to you! And your name is already listed in our film credits on our website. For those of you who wish to get your name in a film, DONATE TODAY! We have 20% left to do. Help us finish this film! This is our final community fundraiser and it all ends October 5th. Thank you for your time and interest in this project.
Most Sincerely,
