Teri L. Sullivan
WKNO Promotions Manager
(901) 729-8735
tlsullivan@wkno.org
February 3 , 2010
For Immediate Release
EMMY-WINNING DOCUMENTARY WILL AIR THIS MONTH ON WKNO
“I AM A MAN: From Memphis, A Lesson in Life”
To Air on WKNO February 18th at 8:30 p.m.
I AM A MAN: From Memphis, A Lesson in Life tells the story of the 1968 Memphis sanitation worker’s strike through the voices of its forgotten heroes—the men and their families who risked their lives and livelihoods to take a historic and heroic stand. The film had its broadcast premiere on WKNO in February 2009, and on January 30th, the film won four 2009 Mid-South Regional Emmy Awards, including the award for Best Documentary – Historical.
“Too often these men are forgotten,” said Calvin Taylor, Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau’s VP and Executive Director of the Memphis Tourism Education Foundation, which provided major funding for the project. “In the wake the assassination of Dr. King we lose focus on these brave men who literally changed the face of history.”
I AM A MAN: From Memphis, A Lesson in Life follows 77-year-old Elmore Nickleberry, still on the job as a sanitation worker some 40 years after striking for better working conditions. Mr. Nickleberry speaks candidly about the conditions that led him and 1,300 other men to strike and the life lessons he hopes their struggle can teach others.
The documentary film also features interviews with Nickleberry’s wife Peggy and son Terrence along with many other sanitation workers. Also featured are never-before-seen photographs of the strike.
“These men provide a stirring example of dignity, character and grace,” according to co-Executive Producer Deanie Parker. “They bring to life exactly what ‘I Am A Man’ meant…and underscores why it still means so much today.” Deanie Parker and collaborator Scott Bomar received the 2009 Mid-South Regional Emmy for Best Music Composer/ Arranger. Also receiving Emmys for their contributions were director Jonathan Epstein and writer John Hubbell.
Presented by the Memphis Tourism Educational Foundation, I AM A MAN: From Memphis, A Lesson in Life is produced in association with Old Bridge Media, Running Pony Productions and Ten-out-of-Ten Productions. It airs Thursday, February 18 on WKNO and repeats Saturday, February 20 at 5:00 p.m. on WKNO / Channel 10.
Funding for the I AM A MAN: From Memphis, A Lesson in Life documentary is provided by the Memphis Tourism Education Foundation, Baptist Memorial Health Care, Southern Heritage Foundation, Inc., Smith & Nephew and Thomas & Betts Corporation with contributions from Ampro Industries Inc., Comcast Cable of Memphis, Ewing Moving & Storage, Rabbi James A. Wax Fund of Temple Israel, William P. & Marie R. Lowenstein Foundation and William Lucy-AFSCME International. Premiere partners included Indie Memphis, Malco Theatre, Memphis & Shelby County Film & Television Commission and WKNO. The “I Am A Man” study guide was funded entirely by Reverend Audrey Taylor Gonzalez.
Broadcast sponsors on WKNO are LeMoyne-Owen College and the NAACP.
WKNO is a non-profit, private foundation serving the Mid-South for more than 50 years.
An important community resource, WKNO uses the power of non-commercial public broadcasting to provide the Mid-South with quality educational and cultural programs that inform, entertain, and inspire. For more information: wkno.org.
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