South Carolina State University will host a premiere of the hour-long documentary film, "The Marines of Montford Point: Fighting for Freedom," at 10:15 a.m. Monday, March 12 in the Barbara A. Vaughan Recital Hall.

The film, narrated by Academy Award Winner Louis Gossett Jr., is a product of the Montford Point Marines Project (MPMP): Documentary Video and Educational Resources grant, funded by the Office of Naval Research, Department of the Navy.

The Montford Point Marines Project is a collaborative effort between SCSU and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Recruited as a result of America's entry into World War II, the marines of Montford Point are truly a unique group of African-American marines who from 1942 until 1949 trained at the segregated Montford Point camp, now a part of the Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps base located in Jacksonville, N.C. The existence and exploits of the more than 20,000 marines who trained at Montford Point are largely unknown to the American public, yet these men played a crucial role in bringing segregation to an end in the United States and in fighting the Second World War, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War.

The marines of Montford Point fought for the United States while contending with racial prejudice within American society in general, with the rigid racial segregation of the American South and with strong initial resistance from the Marine Corps itself. Their accomplishments are a testimony to the ability, courage and patriotism of these men who are extraordinary, if largely unsung, members of what journalist Tom Brokaw has called the "Greatest Generation." 

Their story also affirms the ability of American society to pursue its ideals of justice and equality for all its members, despite an imperfect past.  With this documentary, the Montford Point Marines will now take their place in history along side the U.S. Army's Buffalo Soldiers and the U.S. Army-Air Corps' Tuskegee Airmen.

President Andrew Hugine Jr. will preside over the screening, and several of the original Montford Point Marine veterans will be in attendance, joined by U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). The screening will be followed by a luncheon and a panel discussion with some of the original Montford Point Marine veterans.

For more information, call Dr. Learie Luke at 803-536-8969.

You must be logged in to comment.