Documentary Film Premier

February 15, 2017
Hi, All!
     This weekend is the premier of the documentary film I put together titled "The Story of 'Shelley v. Kraemer'."  The premier will be held this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis, Missouri -- because the major events described in the film took place right there in St. Louis just a few miles from where the museum stands!  Also, the good folks at the Missouri History Museum asked for the premier to be at the museum because the film will be shown for a period of one year in their upcoming exhibit "Civil Rights St. Louis."
    The background story related to the "Shelley v. Kraemer" U.S. Supreme Court decision was the backdrop for my book Olivia's Story: The Conspiracy of Heroes Behind 'Shelley v. Kraemer.'  This ruling, perhaps more than any other modern ruling, helped change the face and color of America.  Up until 1948 (when the Supreme Court ruling happened), people could be denied where they wanted to purchase a home because of issues such as race, color, creed, and national origin.  In St. Louis, a group of five individuals, called "The Conspiracy of Heroes," got together at that time, and through a carefully crafted ruse as good as anything one could find in a mystery movie, worked together to end the horrible practice of "restrictive real estate covenants."  The documentary film shows how these "conspirators" worked together to help all of this come about.
    I'm going to post here a link to a story that was just done by Art Holliday, from KSDK Channel 5 in St. Louis, for his one of his projects related to Black History Month.  Mr. Holliday is one of St. Louis' true treasures; he truly *is* the voice of the people in that city.  He was also a pleasure to work with in the interview process.  Here is the link -- and a picture of Art and me standing in the Channel 5 studio during the intereview:

http://www.ksdk.com/news/history/north-st-louis-house-changed-civil-rights-history/408112089?li_source=base&li_medium=headline-grid

     If you are in the St. Louis area this Saturday night, please consider attending the premier of the film, which will be at 7:00 p.m. at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park.  The event is free and open to the public.  Note: If you are unable to attend this Saturday night, the "Civil Rights Exhibit" that the film is part of will officially open on March 11, 2017 -- and will run at the museum for a period of one year. So, you will have the whole year to see the film.
     More soon.  Happy reading!
JSC