On Friday, February 7, 2020, 6pm, visitors are invited to watch a documentary, “The Other Boys of Summer,” focusing on Negro League Baseball. The showing is a part of the First Friday activities held at the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences, 270 Gay Street, Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
The documentary is an exploration of civil rights in America through the lives of men and women Negro League baseball players, who played professionally in the 1930s-1950s. The Negro Leagues were a form of high-level baseball that existed before African-Americans were allowed in Major League Baseball.
Film-maker Lauren Meyer, an Emmy nominated director with more than 20 years of experience, will be on hand as well as panelists who have insight into the Negro National League. The documentary will be followed by a question and answer session.
Rocky Mount has a long-standing history with the Negro Leagues, and is the hometown of Negro League star Buck Leonard, whose name adorns a boulevard within the city limits. The Buck Leonard Association also offers a yearly baseball league to inner-city youth.
From Tumbleweed Pictures, producers of this documentary:
“The Other Boys of Summer is a powerful and moving film that captures the triumphant spirit of the Negro Leagues in winning fashion,” said Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. “The film brings to light the challenges of playing baseball in a segregated America but also the joy that allowed these courageous athletes to overcome those challenges.”
Narrated by Cicely Tyson, “The Other Boys of Summer” features never-before-seen interviews with the trailblazers who played alongside Jackie Robinson, and changed baseball and America forever. Through the lens of the National Pastime, the film draws from the past to shine the spotlight on issues that dominate today’s headlines. The film premiered in NYC on the centennial of Jackie Robinson’s birth (January 31st) and is on a grassroots barnstorming tour bringing people together, preserving the legacy of civil rights trailblazers and inspiring people. It’s proven to be a valuable Diversity & Inclusion component for P&G, GE Aviation, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, MLB Clubs, schools and communities.
Watch the trailer for the documentary, The Other Boys of Summer, at www.theotherboysofsummer.com.
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Other Imperial Centre exhibits on display include The Black Light Project, Anne Willson’s Markings of Wildness. and the Handcrafted Juried Exhibition.
First Friday takes place from 6-9pm the first Friday of each month (November-March) and includes free arts and crafts activities for youth as well as “No Shame Theater,” which allows for up to five-minute performances in poetry, music, song, dance, and more. No Shame Theater signup begins at 6:30pm, followed by 7pm performances.
Visit imperialcentre.org/events/first-friday for more information.
The city of Rocky Mount, located in the Coastal Plains of North Carolina, was incorporated in 1867 and lies in Edgecombe and Nash Counties. Rocky Mount is a two-time, All-America City on the Tar River. Serving as the Gateway to Eastern North Carolina, the city’s 875 employees serve approximately 58,000 residents daily. The city’s mission is to advance community well-being, safety and quality of life by delivering excellent public services and actively collaborating with the community toward a fulfilling and inspired future for its citizens. As a publicly-owned utility, the city of Rocky Mount is committed to safe, reliable service for its customers and operates in Nash and Edgecombe counties, providing customers with electricity, natural gas, water, wastewater (sewer), refuse, recycling and/or stormwater services. To learn more, visit www.rockymountnc.gov for news and updates.
Source: Jessie Nunery, City of Rocky Mount
