Washington Post Quotes Prof. Rickey Hill

February 15, 2003

February 15, 2003, Greencastle, Ind. - An article in today's Washington Post previewing the February 16 debut of a Showtime movie entitled Deacons for Defense, includes comments from Rickey Hill, Elizabeth P. Allen Distinguished University Professor of Political Science. The film tells the story of the Deacons for Defense and Justice, described by the Post's Lisa Frazier Page, as "a group of working-class black men who with guns and guts forced the great white intimidators to loosen their grip on black Bogalusa, Louisiana." (Dr. Hill is seen talking with a prospective student at the Presidential Reception in Indianapolis, October 9, 2002)

In her story, Page, who grew up in Bogalusa, writes, "Rickey Hill, a professor at DePauw University, recalls listening as a young boy to the real Deacons discuss events. He says the few clips he saw during a preview of the Showtime movie seemed to distort their story. 'I don't remember a time when the Deacons walked down the street with their guns cocked,' says Hill. 'Everybody knew they had guns. But a lot of what they did was clandestine.'"

The film Deacons for Defense, which stars Forest Whitaker and Ossie Davis, premieres on Showtime Sunday at 8 p.m. Learn more by reading the complete article at the Washington Post's Web site by clicking here.

Source: Washington Post

Back