Children of the Civil Rights documentary to be screened February 7

by Rob Howard
Associate Editor

“The kids here in Oklahoma City didn’t know that they were heroes. No one knew that they were heroes,” said documentary filmmaker Julia Clifford.

She was speaking about the saga of the Oklahoma City lunch counter sit-ins. The six-year long effort, led by schoolteacher and civil rights activist Clara Luper, opened Oklahoma City lunch counters, restaurants and cafeterias to all people.

The sit-ins, by black children ranging in age from six to 17, began in August 1958 at the Katz Drugstore lunch counter in downtown Oklahoma City. Clifford says, “Katz Drugstores caved in four days, not only opening their Oklahoma City location to blacks, but their entire chain of stores. The next restaurant took a week. The third one just opened the doors and said, ‘Come on in.’” They continued, with great success until the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Clifford’s documentary about the sit-ins, Children of the Civil Rights, will have a public screening at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City on February 7. The evening starts at 6pm with a reception. The film will be shown from 7-8pm, followed by a Q&A session with several of the original sit-in participants. Tickets are $15 each, and may be purchased by calling (360) 305-7837.

The Gayly – February 2, 2015 @ 11:50am.