When something promises to be good, people will come in spite of the weather. Temperatures last week hovered near zero in downtown Fargo, but it was no match for the lure of intellectual stimulation and good discussion.
Several hundred attendees came through the doors of the Fargo Theatre on January 24, filling up the main floor and balcony seating to witness the Fargo premiere of “The Road to Little Rock,” a 30-minute documentary on the role of Judge Ronald N. Davies in the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School.
The video, shot in 2012 in Little Rock and produced by Fargo-based, Telly-Award-winning Video Arts Studios, featured historical movie footage and photographs of the integration crisis and those who lived it, as well as interviews with members of the Little Rock Nine, Little Rock residents, those who worked with or knew Davies, and commentary by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. The video was narrated by Prairie Public Radio host Doug Hamilton, who also emceed Thursday’s event. Retired Fargo Municipal Judge Tom Davies gave opening remarks prior to the start of the video.
A panel discussion followed the video presentation, featuring Little Rock Nine member Dr. Terrence Roberts, Video Arts filmmaker Art Phillips, and Fargo Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Schatz. Historian and retired FPS teacher Carl Oberholtzer served as moderator.
