A family sued their entire town. The Civil Rights Movement changed forever.
This documentary tells the story about Andrew Hawkins Sr. & Mary Lou Hawkins suing the town of Shaw, Mississippi as a family for the disparities prevalent in the neighborhoods of the African American community. This United States court case took place around one of the peaks in the Civil Rights Movement, Freedom Summer.
Direction
Richardson weaves family testimony with Movement urgency.
Production
Rare Freedom Summer footage hits like a time capsule.
Director
Tijaha Richardson
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Shaw, Mississippi remains one of the most documented Civil Rights battlegrounds, yet Hawkins v. Shaw is rarely taught in standard curricula.
The case established that municipalities could be sued for discriminatory public services, a precedent weaponized in environmental justice cases today.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
US
