Talk Back Recap: Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round
On Saturday, May 17, March On! partnered with the team behind Ain’t No Back to a Merry-Go-Round and AFI Silver Theatre to host a special screening and Talk Back for the powerful documentary uncovering a lesser-known 1960 civil rights protest that helped desegregate Glen Echo Amusement Park in Washington, D.C.
Following the screening, Executive Director Kim Callinan moderated a conversation with filmmaker Ilana Trachtman and civil rights icon Dion Diamond, one of the students who led the protests featured in the film.
“I just knew something was wrong,” said Diamond, recalling how he began integrating lunch counters and libraries in Virginia before the term “sit-in” even existed. “That was my little way of protesting.”
Trachtman described discovering Glen Echo’s buried history while planning her wedding at the park.
“I didn’t understand the Civil Rights Movement was built by everyday people acting locally,” she explained. “And that’s what I hope people take away from this film.”
The film shines a spotlight on the powerful coalition between Howard University students, Jewish neighbors, and labor organizers—and how one arrest sparked Griffin v. Maryland, a landmark Supreme Court case.
“If you don’t know your history,” Diamond warned, “it’s going to come back and get you. And Black history is American history.”
This film, and the conversation it sparked, is a reminder that we each have a role to play in shaping the arc of justice. To find a screening near you, visit www.aintnoback.com.
Help Champion the Stories that Move the Movement: Volunteer at March On!
Do you believe in the power of storytelling and the arts to advance civil rights, amplify underrepresented voices, and spark meaningful change? Join us at the March On! Festival, September 16-21 in Washington, DC and help make the convening happen.
We’re calling on passionate, dedicated individuals to volunteer and help us create an unforgettable festival experience. As part of the March On! Team, you’ll help gather artists, civic leaders, activists, and audiences together in community spaces.
As a Volunteer, You’ll Have the Opportunity To:
- Ensure the smooth operation of a powerful cultural event
- Engage with acclaimed thought leaders, artists and activists
- Attend film screenings, panel discussions, and vital conversations
- Work alongside a mission-driven, creative team
What You’ll Gain:
- Connection – Meet others who care deeply about the civil rights movement
- Experience – Build hands-on skills in events and production
- Inspiration – Be part of something that sparks empathy, knowledge and action.
No experience needed. Just your enthusiasm and commitment to the cause.
Honoring the Children’s Crusade
We almost exclusively focus on adults and college students when discussing the Civil Rights Movement. But children were critical in ushering in the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
On May 2, 1963, over 1,000 students across grade levels skipped classes and instead marched from the 16th Street Baptist Church to downtown Birmingham, Alabama. As news networks broadcast images of children being attacked by fire hoses, police officers, and even police dogs, a groundswell of public outcry ensued.
Now remembered as the Children’s Crusade, this pivotal event is credited for spurring President John F. Kennedy to publicly support landmark civil rights legislation.
Calling Emerging & Student Filmmakers!
Is there a courageous story about speaking truth to power that isn’t getting enough recognition? Whether it’s a new angle on a historic Civil Rights moment or an unsung hero who deserves to have their voice amplified, we want to hear from you!
The March On! Filmmaker Festival is the perfect place to use the power of short films and visual storytelling to shine a spotlight on these important stories. This year the competition is helmed by Opal Hope Bennett, an Emmy-winning Executive Producer at POV Shorts and a Senior Producer at POV.
All submissions must be focused on the modern Civil Rights Era or current social justice issues facing society today. If there’s a story you need to tell, the Student and Emerging Filmmaker Competition welcomes your submission. Compete for 8 prize awards which include a combination of cash and gift cards to use towards future film productions including all-access passes to this year’s Festival.
Submissions are due by Friday, May 30th and selected filmmakers will be notified by Friday, August 1st.
Sinners and the Kongo Cosmogram
Film buffs, creatives, and lovers of Black Excellence on the big screen are buzzing over Ryan Coogler’s latest masterpiece, Sinners. With Michael B. Jordan leading an all-star cast, the incredibly nuanced conversation about culture clashes, magical realism, religion, spirituality, and even what it means to be Black in America all converge in one gorgeous two-hour-plus 70mm IMAX film.
Artistic Director Isisara Bey gives more context by linking Sinners’ uncredited background characters — Blues music and dance — to the ancient Kongo Cosmogram which originated in the Bakongo culture. Believe it or not, this symbol is central to Sinners’ plot and motif yet also explains so much about what’s happening in current events right now.
