Watch Dignified Digital's Sumner High School: The Best Kept Secret, The Documentary

Dignified Digital's Sumner High School: The Best Kept Secret, The Documentary is a film that tells the story of a historic African-American high school in Kansas City, Missouri. The movie features interviews with former students, faculty members, and community leaders, including Dr. Inez Y. Kaiser and Dr. O.L. Plucker. Sumner High School was founded in 1875 and was the first high school for African Americans west of the Mississippi River. The film explores the school's rich history and how it has impacted the lives of those who attended. The school's alumni include prominent figures such as singer and actor, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, and civil rights activist, Muriel Battle.

The movie reflects on the challenges that the students of Sumner High School faced in the early days of desegregation. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. However, it took several years for that ruling to be implemented in Kansas City, and Sumner High School became a battleground in the fight for equal education.

The documentary highlights the perseverance of the students and faculty during this time of upheaval. The filmmakers take a closer look at the civil rights activists who worked tirelessly to make the integration process smoother for the students. The interviews with Dr. Inez Y. Kaiser, a civil rights activist and the first African American woman to own a public relations firm in the United States, and Dr. O.L. Plucker, a former principal at Sumner High School, lend an authoritative voice to the stories of their experiences.

The movie also showcases the achievements of Sumner High School's graduates. The school had an impressive track record for producing successful professionals and entrepreneurs despite the racism and discrimination that were rampant during the time. Many of the alumni went on to make significant contributions to society in fields such as education, medicine, politics, and law.

The documentary underscores how the school continues to impact the community to this day. Although the school closed in 2010, the Sumner Alumni Association still upholds the legacy of the institution, and the school building has been repurposed as a museum. The movie features an interview with the association's president, who discusses the organization's commitment to supporting education in the Kansas City area.

Overall, Dignified Digital's Sumner High School: The Best Kept Secret, The Documentary is an enlightening and moving retelling of one of the most important but often overlooked stories of African-American history. The film touches on various themes such as perseverance, community, and hope. It serves as a reminder of the challenges that the African American community has faced in the past, and how the struggle for progress and equality continues to this day. The interviews with the key figures offer valuable insight into the history of Sumner High School and its impact on the larger community. This documentary is a must-watch for anyone interested in the civil rights movement, African-American history or those who want to learn more about the enduring impact of education on individual lives and society as a whole.

Dignified Digital's Sumner High School: The Best Kept Secret, The Documentary is a 2014 documentary with a runtime of 2 hours and 1 minute.