Tavis Smiley kneels near Jubilee Hall at Fisk during the making of the documentary, "Stand."
Fisk University will be one of the featured sites in the upcoming documentary, “Stand,” featuring Tavis Smiley, Dr. Cornel West, Cliff West, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, BeBe Winans, Dr. Eddie Glaude, Dick Gregory and Wren T. Brown. These men gathered to explore the African American male experience during a special trip through Memphis and Nashville.
“I see this movie as a window, if you will, into the world of Black men…This film features a range of Black men that we run into in church, over dinner on the streets of Memphis and Nashville,” Smiley said.
The documentary was shot during the summer of 2008, just months before the election of President Obama and months after the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The group visited Fisk University as Jubilee Hall was the location of Dr. Cornel and Cliff West’s parent’s first meeting.
“Stand” will air on TV One on May 24 from 9 -11 p.m. For more information, visit tvoneonline.com.
My husband and I enjoyed watching your documentary. It was great to see the dialogue of wisdom on past and present issues. The laughter and the tears were a heart-warming perspective. Through all the debates and discussions, yes there is a humorous and sensitive core that is often struck by the innate course of life. Your journey with these great men sets an example of male bonding,revealing history, and pride. The list could go on, I’d like to thank you for making a wonderful documentary and all of the other great informative work that you do.
I did not get to see this documentary, because I’m only now learning of it; but I sure wish I had. It sounds very interesting and inspiring.