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News Release

For Immediate Release: December 20, 2002
Media Contact: Suellen Bilow (415) 557-4252
Catherine King (415) 557-4211

The Long Walk to Freedom

Exhibition Celebrating Civil Rights Activists
Opens January 18 at San Francisco Main Library

Reception/Program - Saturday, February 1

The Long Walk to Freedom is a living-history exhibition that explores a crucial time when ordinary people did extraordinary things. On display in the San Francisco Main Library's Skylight Gallery, 100 Larkin Street (at Grove), from January 18 through March 20, 2003, the exhibition highlights the contributions of twelve civil rights activists of the 1960s who helped change the face of our nation. Their contributions provide a blueprint for future activism especially for the young people who studied them.

"The Long Walk to Freedom, 1900 - Now: Portraits of Civil Rights Activists Then and Now is the culmination of an 18-month in-depth study by 60 students in the eleventh grade at George Washington High School in San Francisco. The students met and interviewed the twelve Civil Rights activists, studied their lives and documented their experiences. They did so through a series of comprehensive activities and workshops during which they learned research and interviewing techniques; conducted biographical studies and personal interviews; and wrote essays, letters, songs and video inspired by the stories they heard.

A reception to meet and honor the twelve civil rights activists, who all fought for racial equality in the 1960s and are still making a difference today, will be held at the SF Main Library on Saturday, February 1.

The twelve honorees are:

Robert Allen, an award-winning author, professor of Ethnic and African American Studies at UC Berkeley, and senior editor of The Black Scholar;
Frances M. Beal, Research Associate at the Racial Justice Project of the ACLU of Northern California and a political columnist for the San Francisco Bay View newspaper;
Janet Clinger, Director of the Come Into the Sun Mentorship program;
Bettie Mae Fikes, a musician who tours the country giving talks about the Civil Rights Movement and leads children's workshops;
Jon Fromer, winner of 12 Northern California Emmys and one National Emmy and a producer for KQED Television;
Matt Herron, a photojournalist & director/proprietor of TAKE STOCK: Images of Change;
Philip Hutchings, an independent consultant dedicated to building an equitable multiracial, multicultural and multilingual society;
Yuri Kochiyama, who works in support of political prisoners;
Carlos Munoz, Professor Emeritus in UC Berkeley's Department of Ethnic Studies;
Willie B. Wazir Peacock, with Stepping Stone Growth Center;
Eleanor Walden, who helped found the Freedom Song Network and today works as a health advocate for seniors; and
Cecil B. Williams, pastor of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco.

The February 1st program, beginning at 2:00 p.m. in SF Main Library's Koret Auditorium, includes a 20-minute video highlighting the project, and will be followed by a reception and exhibition viewing in the Skylight Gallery. The exhibition includes historical photographs, contemporary photographic portraits, quotes, an interactive DVD, archival materials, a 20-minute video and a graphic timeline developed in collaboration with the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Following its showing at the San Francisco Public Library, The Long Walk to Freedom will travel to other venues including One Market Street in San Francisco from June 7 to July 26, 2003 and The African American Museum and Library in Oakland, September 2003 to January 2004.

All programs at the San Francisco Public Library are free and open to the public.

The Long Walk to Freedom was organized by Community Works and is sponsored by the Calfornia Arts Council, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Friends & Foundation of the San Francisco Public Library, The Walter and Elise Haas Fund and The Sam and Mary Mills Fund.

Long Walk to Freedom Related Programs at the SF Main Library

Saturday, February 1 at 2:00 p.m. 'Meet and Honor 12 Civil Rights activists' Program and Reception, Main Library's Koret Auditorium. Premiere screening of a 20-minute video highlighting the project, followed by a reception and exhibition viewing in the Skylight Gallery.
Wednesday, February 26 at 6:30 p.m. "Revisit the Civil Rights Struggle". A slide presentation by Matt Herron , Main Library's Koret Auditorium.
Saturday, March 1 at 2:00 p.m. "The Legacy Continues: Youth Activism Today". A dialogue moderated by James Bell, Director of the Burns Institute. Koret Auditorium.
Youth activists Lateefah Simon (from the Center for Young Women's Development) and Michael Molina (from the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights) in conversation with veteran Civil Rights activists Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez and Clayborne Carson.

San Francisco Public Library at Civic Center is open seven days a week.
Skylight Gallery hours are:
Sunday 12-5; Monday 10-6; Tuesday through Thursday 9-6;
For more information, please call (415) 557-4277.

NOTE TO MEDIA: A PRESS PREVIEW will be held on Friday, January 17, with Community Works and some honorees. Please call (415) 557-4282 or (415) 557-4211 to RSVP.

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