The University of Toronto Libraries Media Commons Archives presents a film screening of THE LAST WHITE KNIGHT (2012). A moderated discussion with the filmmaker, Paul Saltzman, will directly follow the screening.

“THE LAST WHITE KNIGHT was inspired by an incident during the early 1960’s when Paul journeyed to the Deep South as a civil rights worker to help with voter registration in Mississippi, one of the hard-core bastions of the Old South. One of the first days he was there he was assaulted by a group of young men led by Byron “Delay” De La Beckwith, the son of the man convicted of killing civil rights activist Medgar Evers. Decades later, Saltzman returns to the south to meet with Beckwith and see what, if anything, has changed in the New South. He interviews a wide variety of people from Harry Belafonte, the celebrated singer and civil rights activist, who recounts his own experiences during the voter registration drive; actor Morgan Freeman (who was raised, and now lives, in Mississippi); a top FBI official, who discuss the close links between the police and the Klan during the period; to a group of kids from different races who are best friends; and (chillingly) a trio of dedicated, unregenerate Klansmen.”

Please note: This film highlights acts/experiences of racism and racial violence. Certain scenes contain offensive and racist language used to describe Black communities and may activate different responses (both emotional and physical) from viewers. Staff from the Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office (ARCDO) will be present for those who may need to support anytime during or after this event.

PAUL SALTZMAN is a two-time Emmy Award-winning, Toronto-based director-producer known for over 300 film and television productions. After briefly studying Engineering Science, he did congressional civil rights lobbying in Washington, D.C., and voter registration in Mississippi, in the summer of 1965, with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

MICHAEL CASSABON is Director of Advancement, University of Toronto Libraries, and moderator of the evening’s discussion.