G@G Virtual Film Discussion: Did You Wonder Who Fired the Gun?
Gather@Grand Virtual Film Discussion for November 2021
Did You Wonder Who Fired the Gun?
A documentary murder mystery about the filmmaker’s family, set in lower Alabama, 18 miles north of the Florida state line. On an October night in 1946, S.E. Branch twice shot a man named Bill Spann in the small neighborhood market that Branch owned. Two days later, Spann died in a segregated black hospital. Branch was white-a Klansman-and Spann was black. Branch claimed self-defense, but despite that claim and the political climate in Dothan, Alabama in 1946, Branch was charged with first-degree murder. S.E. Branch was the artist’s great granddaddy, on his mother’s side. Everyone says they looked alike. That this story echoes across decades and generations says much about the distance traveled by U.S. society since 1946.
DOWNLOAD STUDY GUIDE: Did You WonderStudy Guide
Confronting Racism—part of the 2021-22 Gather@Grand Program
We will view a series of films exploring variously tendencies and resolves to sweep racism under the rug and also the courage and persistence to confront it, with study and discussion questions provided by Ms. Linda Pete; the films can be viewed when convenient and then zoom sessions will be scheduled for those choosing to discuss issues in common. This option is designed and co-led by Linda and Sr. Patricia Dougherty, OP, educators who led the series last year with nine films, study questions, discussion process. Discussions will be Thursday evenings once a month, with the first one scheduled for Thursday evening, November 18, 7-8:30 pm. Dates are Nov. 18, Dec. 16, Jan 27, Feb. 24, Mar. 24, Apr. 28, May 26.