Some prejudices never die. Take the case of the Charleston, Mississippi High School prom. Even though the school system was desegregated a long time ago, the senior class must deal with two different proms, one for whites, another one for blacks. Enter actor Morgan Freeman. He is a native of Charleston, but he left when he was six years old. Mr. Freeman brings an interesting proposal for the students that will be graduating in the 2008 school year: he will pay for the party as long as there is one prom that will bring all the students together for a last night of fun during the last days of their senior year.The students are basically receptive to the idea proposed by Mr. Freeman, yet, the white folks in town, decide to go on with their segregated party that proves to be a dismal failure. On the other hand, the integrated feast goes on without a hitch. This documentary deals with intolerance and ignorance in the heartland. Most whites in that part of the Deep South have kept their own views on the way they perceive relations between the two races. As a result, their biases are passed down to the children that grow up looking down on the kids they attend to school with. While the rest of the country does things differently, these folks in Charleston, as well, we are sure, as in other small communities, deprive the children of keeping an open mind about this issue.The documentary, written and directed by Paul Saltzman keeps a keen eye in the way the young people appear to be more adjusted than the adults.

I happened upon the middle of this HBO-produced program by accident. I couldn't believe what I was seeing: talk of racism, "blacks" and "whites" going to separate proms ... and Morgan Freeman - what did he have to do with anything? Well, I decided to wait and watch it from the beginning. Boy - this was a great documentary.Charleston, Mississippi is small, 2000-person town. Approx. 40% is white and 60% African American. The high school has 415 students total, which means about 100 students graduate every year. Believe it or not, with even this tiny student population, up till 2008, there were separate senior proms for "blacks" and "whites".What does Morgan Freeman have to do with it? He lives there! One of the amazing scenes in the show is when Freeman visits the senior class and has a frank discussion with them. He asks them pointedly direct and blunt questions. When asked why he's doing this, he responds: "I live here and I think it is the stupidest thing I ever heard of" ... and goes on from there. He is an amazingly articulate and bright individual - I'll bet it was both his societal standing (or celebrity status) and leadership skills that got the integrated prom to go forward.The kids interviewed in the show are very articulate and forward looking; the real impediment to progress seems to be the parents. Apparently the some parents tried to take legal action to "prevent", if you can believe it, an integrated prom. When they failed, they still pushed forward with a "white"-only prom. It almost leaves one speechless. This show is a great example of why generation gaps are sometimes a good thing. Some generational ideas need to fade away with the generation that embraced them.This is a great documentary - definitely worthwhile viewing. It'll shock you realize how parts of this country are still mentally 'stuck' in the 50 and 60s. Unreal.

This documentary is about a small town in Mississippi that (to this day) has integrated proms--one for blacks, the other whites! Hard to believe but it's true. Actor Morgan Freeman was born and raised in that town up to the age of 6. He says he'll pay for the school prom--IF it's integrated! Naturally this drays a firestorm of controversy but mostly from the parents who don't want it. The kids do--but they're caught in the middle.Absolutely fascinating documentary. It's inconceivable to think that ANY town in this day and age would have separate proms. The documentary talks to the parents and kids. It's made pretty clear that most of the parents are against it--only a few support it. Also a group of white parents pressed charges against the town to NOT have an integrated prom. They also refused to appear on camera and talk about it. This isn't all about racism--it has some very fun moments. The kids themselves are funny, adult and articulate. The best bit is one boy who ends up with TWO dates to the prom! Also the tone of the film is not hysterical or condemning anyone. They just show you what's happening and has the citizens talk about it. Absolutely fascinating. A 10 all the way.

There was something special about seeing this film at the Crossroads Film Festival in Jackson, Mississippi. There were some in the audience who did not know that proms were still segregated in some cities. Of course, they don't have to be segregated in Jackson because the vast majority of white students there attend private schools.Be that as it may, this film makes it clear that racism is not an either-or proposition. There are some students who have black friends but would only date whites, a few who either by their own choice or under pressure from their parents will not attend an integrated prom, and one interracial couple who decide to become really public by going to the prom together. On one thing the students seem almost unanimous: separate proms is their parents' idea, not theirs.Almost everyone seemed to be willing to talk to the film makers, except the small group of parents who organized their own whites-only prom. Perhaps the most powerful portion of the film is an interview with a white father who struggles with his own racist attitudes while refusing to give up on his daughter, whose boyfriend is black. I cannot think of a movie more likely to promote discussion about issues of race than Prom Night. And on top of that, it's just plain worth watching.