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Deep Dive: You Got to Move (1985)

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You Got to Move
You Got to Move is a documentary that follows individuals from Southern U.S. communities as they engage in social change. The film centers on the Highlander Folk School, a 93-year-old institution that has played a significant role in the lives of those featured. The documentary captures the stories of people like Bernice Robinson, who taught literacy to adults on Johns Island to help them meet voter registration requirements in the 1950s and 1960s. The film also features Bernice Johnson Reagon, a college student who participated in protests against segregated public facilities in Albany, Georgia. Her reflections on the motivations behind their activism reveal the deep commitment to social justice that drove these individuals. Additionally, Bill Saunders shares his experiences transitioning from a mattress factory worker to running a community radio station, illustrating the diverse paths of activism that emerged from the Highlander Folk School's influence.

Why Watch

  • •Meet Bernice Robinson, a pioneer in adult literacy.
  • •Follow Bill Saunders' journey from factory worker to activist.
  • •See the impact of the Highlander Folk School on social change.

Did You Know

•Bernice Robinson taught adults to read and write in the 1950s.
•The Highlander Folk School is 93 years old as of 2023.
•Bill Saunders organized a 100-day-long hospital workers' strike in 1969.
•Bernice Johnson Reagon participated in one of the first city-wide protests in Albany, Georgia.

Perfect For

Civil Rights MovementSouthern musicCommunity activism