The Moviehouse Presents "Students as Historians: A Community-Based Approach to History"

The Moviehouse, in collaboration with the Troutbeck Symposium, presents "Students as Historians: A Community-Based Approach to History" featuring three student-made documentary films followed by a Q and A session with educators.

The Troutbeck Symposium, scheduled for April 30–May 2, is the annual meetings of local students and educators to explore the little-known histories centered around communities of color and other marginalized groups. The Symposium was inspired by the 1916 and 1933 Amenia Conferences, which were held at Troutbeck (a secluded estate hotel in Amenia) and ultimately led to the formation of the NAACP.

Click here to register for the film screenings at The Moviehouse in Millerton.

About the films:

• "Coloring Our Past" (Salisbury School): This documentary follows an African American family from the Revolutionary War and traces their roots to Salisbury, exploring the contributions of marginalized communities in shaping both the town and the nation and shedding light on overlooked histories and their lasting impact.

• "Faces of Adversity" (Housatonic Valley Regional High School): This documentary examines the aftermath of the Little Rock Nine and the subsequent shutdown of public schools in Arkansas. It follows the journey of two Black girls who, in the face of segregation and limited educational opportunities, attended and graduated from Housatonic High School, highlighting their resilience and the broader struggle for educational access and racial justice.

• "1831 College" (Yale University): This documentary explores the history and ultimate defeat of Yale’s proposed Black college in 1831. It delves into the racial and social tensions of the time, highlighting the barriers to Black education and the broader implications of this lost opportunity for racial equity in higher education.