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Arts & Entertainment

Darien Library Announces Special "Stand Against Racism" Film Screenings

Darien Library will present two special film events in support of the “Stand Against Racism”* movement.

Friday, April 29 at 2 p.m. – HAIRSPRAY (2007) Starring John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Allison Janney, Nikki Blonsky, Christopher Walken, and Michelle Pfeiffer; Rated PG; 113 minutes

In this screen version of the Broadway play, Tracy Turnblad is a heavyweight teenager with huge hair who is obsessed with Link Larken on the Corny Collins Show. She sings and dances her way into his heart and onto the show. However, she decides that the segregation of the show is not fair so she and her friends fight to integrate the show.

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Wednesday, May 11 at 7 p.m. – A CLASS DIVIDED (1986) Documentary feature; Not rated; 60 minutes

In 1970, an innovative teacher attempted a daring experiment in her elementary school classroom. To evaluate how racial stereotypes affect young children, Jane Elliott divided her class between those with blue eyes and those with brown and gave blue-eyed children preferential treatment. This classic program presents the long-term effects of racial stereotyping in schools and suggests how new approaches can make a positive difference with students and teachers. Discussion to follow film screening. Co-sponsored by the YWCA Darien/Norwalk.

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*The “Stand Against Racism” is a movement of the YWCA with the goal of bringing people together from all walks of life -- across the country -- to raise awareness that racism still exists. “Stand Against Racism” Day is Friday, April 29, 2011. The YWCA Darien/Norwalk, along with 60 YWCA’s and approximately 1,500 organizations, will celebrate diversity and raise awareness that racism still exists and should not be tolerated.

Darien Library is located at 1441 Post Road, Darien, Conn.

For more information, visit darienlibrary.org or call 203-655-1234.

Additional parking for evening and weekend Library programs on Thorndal Circle.

(Images attached: “Hairspray” and “A Class Divided”)

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