Women's Rights National Historical Park to Show "Tuskegee Airmen" as part of Winter Film Festival

Date: February 13, 2012
Contact: Andrea DeKoter, 315.568.0024

Seneca Falls, NY - Women's Rights National Historical Park is pleased to announce that it will show the PBS documentary The Tuskegee Airmen this Friday and Saturday, February 17 and 18, at 12 p.m.

As the first all African-American aerial unit in America's armed forces, the Tuskegee Airmen faced the challenges of battling racism at home as they fought Nazism abroad during World War II. The film documents the struggles and achievements of what became one of America's most famous combat units.

The film is being shown as part of Women's Rights National Historical Park's first Winter Film Festival. The park exists to commemorate and preserve the events of the First Women's Rights Convention that was held in Seneca Falls in 1848. "We are proud to be part of the National Park system, and we invite everyone to join us in celebrating our shared history and culture through film," said Superintendent Tammy Duchesne.

The park is also showing the film as part of its celebration of African American History Month. "The Declaration of Sentiments that was presented at the First Women's Rights Convention states that all men and women are created equal," said Duchesne. "We are inspired by the courage and sacrifice of those who dedicated themselves to this ideal and to the struggle for freedom and equality in our great country."

Following the film on Saturday, February 18, visitors are invited to stay for two additional special events. At 2 p.m. Dr. Dianne Wheaton Cappiello will present a talk entitled, "'We would insist on the universality of freedom': Black Antislavery Activism, 1770-1840." After the talk, a special program and reception bidding farewell to the park's suffrage printing press will be held from 3-4 p.m.

The Tuskegee Airmen is approximately one hour long and intended for a general audience. All Winter Film Festival movies will be shown at 12 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, November through April, in the Guntzel Theater, located at the Women's Rights National Historical Park Visitor Center at 136 Fall Street in downtown Seneca Falls. Because film lengths vary, visitors are encouraged to call if they are interested in a particular showing. All park programs are free and open to the public. For more information, please call [phone]. You can also follow the park's social media sites for Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/womensrightsnps) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/WomensRightsNPS) to learn more about our upcoming events and programs.