Rosenwald: An Aviva Kempner Film
Texas Spirit Theater | NR | 95 min. | Documentary Film
Special Screening February 8 Regular Screenings February 9, 15, and 16
Experience the incredible true story of community, education, and legacy of Rosenwald schools.
Event Details
Directed by Aviva Kempner, Rosenwald is the story of Julius Rosenwald, a Jewish businessman and philanthropist who joined forces with Booker T. Washington and African American communities in the segregationist Jim Crow South to build more than 5,000 schools. Inspired by the Jewish doctrine of "tikkun olam," repairing the world, and a deep concern over racial inequality in America, the Rosenwald Fund supported the building of YMCAs, housing, and funded artists such as Marian Anderson, Langston Hughes, and Gordon Parks.
Join us on February 8 at 1 p.m. for a special screening and discussion event with David Porter III, Hopewell Rosenwald School Community Development Advisor, Ashley Rodriguez and Berenice Lopez, American Youthworks YouthBuild Program, Elroy Williams, President of Hopewell Community Club & Hopewell Rosenwald School Community, and Bullock Curator James McReynolds.
After the special screening event on February 8, additional screenings are at 1 p.m. on February 9, February 15, and February 16. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis for all screenings.
Tickets are $8 for Museum Members and $12 for General Admission. Not a member? Find out more here.
February 8 Special Screening Tickets
Rating: NR
Suggested Age: all ages
Director: Aviva Kempner
Producer(s): Andrew Geyer, Aviva Kempner, Michael Rose
Runtime: 95 minutes
Release year: 2015
Genre: Documentary
Award-winning filmmaker Aviva Kempner has been making documentaries about underknown Jewish heroes since 1979. Kempner is a recipient of the 1996 Guggenheim Fellowship for filmmaking. She also consulted on Never Stop Dreaming: The Life and Legacy of Shimon Peres, and wrote narration for Promises to Keep, the Academy Award-nominated documentary on the homeless.
The Hopewell Rosenwald School was established in 1922 through a partnership between the African American community, public funds, a grant from the Rosenwald Fund, and a 1.5-acre land donation from Martin and Sophia McDonald. The school served Black children in Cedar Creek, Bastrop County, providing a critical education until the late 1950s, when the Brown v. Board of Education ruling ended segregation in public schools.
After its closure, the building fell into disrepair. In 2015, the Hopewell Rosenwald School Project secured a $50,000 grant from Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative to restore the school. Now under restoration, the project aims to transform the building into a community center, preserving its legacy and the community’s dedication to education.
Associate Curator of Special Projects, James McReynolds, is an experienced museum professional. He earned a Master’s Degree in History and has worked at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in several capacities, including as Head of Public Programs in the education department, and now as part of the team developing concepts and content for exhibitions at the Museum.
Public programs at the Bullock Museum explore relevant history and celebrate the culture that has shaped our modern world. Through engaging discussions, live performances, and experiential activities visitors are invited to see local connections and discover how Texas fits into a broader national story.
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