A Time for Burning
Directed by Barbara Connell and Bill Jersey
1967/USA
Quest Productions
First viewing/Netflix rental

Tagline: A Dramatic Portrait of American Conscience

An intimate look at a time that could be both then and now.

Lutheran minister Bill Youngdahl believes passionately in Civil Rights and in promoting understanding between races.  He comes up with the idea of having 10 couples from his church meet with their counterparts in an African-American Lutheran Church.  Innocuous, no?  But Bill’s congregation is fearful and the African-Americans aren’t sold on the idea either.  Contains many enlightening conversations both between and among the various “sides”.  One of the most outspoken of the African-Americans is barber Ernie Chambers, who went on to become the longest serving U.S. Congressmen in Nebraska history.

This seems both extremely dated and extremely relevant at the same time.  Talking heads include black activists and young people and some very square white people, well-meaning or not so much.  DVD includes a good commentary by those involved in the making of.